According to HT, the US-based pharma company’s supplies are “fully booked till 2021
The Indian government’s discussions with US pharmaceutical major Moderna for making its mRNA technology-based coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine part of the country’s vaccine programme may take till 2022 because the US company’s supplies are “fully booked till 2021” according to an internal government report.
To deal with issues pertaining to procurement of COVID-19 vaccines from foreign vaccine makers, the government had set up a team on June 11 headed by Niti Aayog (health) officials comprising officers from the health ministry, department of legal affairs and the external affairs ministry. This team is in dialogue with foreign manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna on various issues like indemnity.
“Pfizer has agreed to supply millions of Pfizer vaccines, but has claimed compensation agreements to waive all liability of the company, as well as sovereign jurisdiction and arbitration,” the report said. He added that India’s mission abroad confirmed the existence of such an agreement and notified relevant authorities of the same.
