Coronavirus Vaccine: Harsh Vardhan Slammed Opposition For His Comment On Vaccines
New Delhi:
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan criticized Congress and other opposition leaders for their comments on Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, which was licensed for emergency use in the country along with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. .
Congressional leaders Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had pointed out that Covaxin lacked efficacy data to demonstrate the vaccine’s effectiveness before it was approved for emergency use.
“It is shameful for someone to politicize such a critical issue. Sh @ShashiTharoor, Sh @yadavakhilesh & Sh @Jairam_Ramesh do not try to discredit the well-established science-backed protocols that were followed to approve # COVID19 vaccines. Wake up and understand that you are only discrediting yourselves, “Harsh Vardhan tweeted.
It is a shame that someone politicizes such a critical issue.
Sh @ShashiTharoor, Sh @yadavakhilesh & Sh @Jairam_Ramesh Don’t try to discredit well-established and science-backed protocols followed to pass #Vaccines for COVID-19
Wake up and realize that you are only discrediting yourself!
– Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021
The Health Minister said that Covaxin “likely has a similar reported protective efficacy for others,” despite the lack of efficacy data from phase 3 trials.
“Worldwide approved vaccines based on genes encoding peak proteins have a protective efficacy of more than 90%. However, covaxin based on whole inactivated viruses has other antigenic epitopes in addition to the peak protein. Therefore, it is likely to have a similar protective efficacy reported for others. ” Harsh Vardhan said.
“Covaxin is more likely to work against newer variants such as variant N501Y (UK variant) and any other that may arise due to antigenic drift, as it contains immunogens (epitopes) from genes other than protein Spike. Also the inactivated virus of the NIV had the mutation D614G “, said the minister of Health.
“For those who spread rumors, let it be known that US for Covaxin is conditionally different – in clinical trial mode, US for Covaxin is different from Covishield because its use will be in clinical trial mode. All Covaxin receptors will be tracked, monitored as if ‘We are on trial,’ Harsh Vardhan tweeted, referring to the emergency use authorization.
For those who spread rumors, please let them know that USA for COVAXIN is conditional differently, in clinical trial mode
USA for COVAXIN is different from COVISHIELD because its use will be in clinical trial mode.
All COVAXIN recipients must be tracked, monitored as if they were on trial pic.twitter.com/1N8LGnhC3w– Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021
At a press conference today, India’s general drug regulator said that both vaccines, Covishield and Oxford’s Covaxin, should be administered in two doses and stored at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.
“We will never approve anything if there is even the slightest safety issue. The vaccines are 110 percent safe,” DCGI VG Somani said, adding that Covishield was found to be 70.42 percent effective and Covaxin was “safe and provides an answer. solid immune “.
BJP chief JP Nadda tweeted that Congress and other opposition parties are trying to cause panic among the people. “Congress and the Opposition take no pride in anything Indian. They should introspect how their lies about the COVID-19 vaccine will be used by vested interest groups for their own agendas,” Nadda said.
Earlier in the day, Congressional leaders had said that the government should explain why mandatory protocols and verification of phase 3 trial data have been waived when granting permission for emergency use of Covaxin.
“Covaxin has yet to have Phase 3 trials. Approval was premature and could be dangerous. @Drharshvardhan should clarify. Its use should be avoided until full trials are complete. India can start AstraZeneca vaccine in the meantime,” Tharoor tweeted. .
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