Covid-19: Congressional questions nod to Covaxin; BJP Strikes Back | India News

NEW DELHI: Several Congressional leaders on Sunday raised questions about the approval process for Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine, saying the “premature” step can prove to be “dangerous.” The government and the BJP responded vigorously to criticism from Congress, and BJP chief JP Nadda said the opposition party comes up with “wild theories” to ridicule India’s achievements.
Earlier today, the Comptroller General of Drugs of India approved Covishield from the Serum Institute and locally developed Covaxin from Bharat Biotech for emergency use in India.
The government hailed the approval as a crucial turn in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Congressional leaders raise their eyebrows; BJP hits back
Shortly after the announcement, some Congressional leaders, including Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor, and Jairam Ramesh, expressed serious concerns about the approval of the Bharat Biotech vaccine.
Congressional Senior Leader Anand Sharma asked the government to explain why mandatory protocols and data verification have been dispensed with.
“DCGI’s statement is puzzling and the government should disclose final data from global efficacy trials and final trials in the UK which has been officially shared by the UK MHRA following a government-to-government agreement signed between the two countries should be made public domain to avoid any confusion about the proven efficacy of the vaccine, “said Sharma.
Ramesh asked the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to clarify why internationally accepted protocols are being modified in phase 3 trials.

“Bharat Biotech is a top-tier company, but it is puzzling that internationally accepted protocols related to Phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan should clarify,” he said on Twitter.
In quick retaliation, BJP Chairman JP Nadda claimed that whenever India achieves something commendable, the opposition party comes up with “wild theories” to “ridicule” the achievements.

Union aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri also attacked opposition leaders, saying they are seeking permanent political marginalization.
His attack, however, drew a strong retort from the leader of Congress, Jairam Ramesh, who compared him to Nazi propagandists.
Nadda accused Congress and other opposition parties of trying to cause panic among the people to promote their “failed policy and nefarious agendas.”
In a tweet, Puri said: “Our internal cynics M / s Jairam, Tharoor and Akhilesh are behaving faithfully. They first questioned the value of our soldiers and are now unhappy that the two vaccines to get DCGI approval have been made in India. Clearly, they are looking for permanent political marginalization. ”

Jairam Ramesh replied, “So says the inner Goebbels-cum-Albert Speer.”

Both Goebbels and Speer were close allies of the German dictator Hitler.
Tharoor, a congressional deputy and former trade union minister, also responded to Puri, saying that he had never questioned the value of our soldiers.
“I would be happy and proud if more Indian vaccines were approved, but only after a full 3-phase trial confirms that they are safe and effective. Cutting the process is unprecedented, inadvisable and life-threatening.”

“We are puzzled to understand what scientific logic has motivated the SEC (committee of experts in the field) to approve this vaccine in a hurry … in violation of the criteria in the draft regulatory guidelines for the development of Covid vaccines- 19 posted by CDSCO on 20/20/9, “he tweeted, referring to Covaxin from Bharat Biotech.
We generate excellent safety data: Bharat Biotech
Meanwhile, Bharat Biotech said it has generated excellent safety data, with sources saying the vaccine is 80-85% effective.
In an official statement on Sunday, the Hyderabad-based company said it has generated excellent safety data with robust immune responses to multiple viral proteins that persist and aims to provide global access to populations that need it most.
“It has also been shown to generate memory T cell responses, due to its multiple epitopes, indicating longevity and a rapid antibody response to future infections. Its most critical feature is the demonstrated safety profile, which is significantly lower than several others. vaccines with published data, “the statement said.
Government, BJP leaders salute “historic moment”
As Congress raised questions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers hailed the approval of the vaccine as a “watershed moment” and predicted that India will soon be “crown free.”
Prime Minister Modi said the emergency approval is “a decisive turning point to strengthen an energetic fight” against Covid-19. He further said that all Indians would be proud that the two vaccines that received emergency use approval are manufactured in India.

Union Interior Minister Amit Shah said approval to manufacture the vaccines in India will prove to be a “game changer” by pushing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

BJP chief Nadda also echoed the sentiment, saying that DCGI’s approval for the emergency use of two vaccines is a watershed and historic moment for the country.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has established a new dimension. Many congratulations to all scientists and doctors,” said Nadda.
Vardhan welcomed the emergency use approval, calling it a “watershed moment” in India’s battle against Covid-19. Additionally, he called vaccines a fitting tribute to crown warriors and expressed his sincere gratitude to healthcare professionals as well as frontline workers.
The Union Minister of State (MoS) for Family Health and Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey said India will soon be crown free.
Akhilesh urges caution; Mayawati welcomes vaccines
In addition to the BJP and Congress, the approval of the vaccine also provoked reactions from other political parties.
Samajwadi Party Chairman Akhilesh Yadav said that the Covid-19 vaccination program is a “sensitive process” and that the government should not treat it as a “cosmetic” event, as it is a matter of people’s lives.
“… the BJP government should not consider this as a ‘sajaawati-dikhaawati (decorative cosmetic) event and start it only after concrete arrangements have been made. This is a matter of people’s lives, so the risk of improvement in the future the scenario can not be taken, “said Yadav.

Yadav had sparked a controversy on Saturday by saying that he does not trust the “BJP vaccine” and that he will not inject himself.
His comment had sparked an instant retort from Uttar Pradesh’s BJP leader and chief deputy minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya, who called it an “insult to the country’s doctors and scientists.”
Meanwhile, Mayawati, supreme of the Bahujan Samaj Party, congratulated scientists associated with the coronavirus vaccine and urged the Center to make it available to the poor at no cost.

(With inputs from agencies)