Congress leader Milind Deora | Twitter
Congress leader Milind Deora | Twitter
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New Delhi: The Congress party continues to be divided over Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, with some leaders criticising the “premature” approval for the indigenously-developed Covid-19 vaccine, even as party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala welcomed the move. 

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin was granted conditional nod, based on incomplete Phase 3 trial results data last week. The vaccine has been recommended for restricted emergency use authorisation by a subject expert committee appointed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.

On Monday, Congress leader Milind Deora added to the chorus of party leaders questioning the hasty approval.

“When we habitually oppose for the sake of opposing, we risk losing the credibility to ask genuine questions & hold the government accountable,” he tweeted. “No less the Prime Minister must come clean & restore eroding public faith in #Covaxin.” 

 

Subsequently, in an interview to News18, Deora said, “There are sections of the scientific community that are concerned about one of the vaccines and the speedy approval given to it, no one is saying Indian vaccines are bad… So we should not get into a political slugfest.

“Bharat Biotech is a good company,” he added. “But a process has to be followed after which regulatory approvals are given and there has been a debate as to why this company’s vaccine was given approval in such a hasty manner.”

 

Two other senior Congress leaders, Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh, had Sunday raised questions over the “premature and dangerous” approval.

“The Covaxin has not yet had Phase 3 trials. Approval was premature and could be dangerous. @drharshvardhan should please clarify. Its use should be avoided till full trials are over. India can start with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the meantime,” Tharoor had tweeted.

 

Jairam Ramesh, seeking a clarification from Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, said “it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin.”

 

‘Give us free, best and approved vaccine’

Despite senior voices in the party questioning the speedy approval of the vaccine, the Congress has officially welcomed Covaxin, with chief party spokesperson Surjewala calling the approval a “great start for the New Year”.

“Kudos to our scientists & researchers of Bharat Biotech on approval of the indigenously developed Corona vaccine & Serum Institute & its scientists too. India has always lead the way in path breaking innovations in past & will continue to do the same,” he tweeted Sunday.

 

Party spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh denied that there was any “divide” in the party over the vaccine. 

“The Congress’ position is clear. We are saying that the government should promise a free vaccine to the entire country, which is the best quality vaccine in the world and has passed all the tests according to the protocols set by our scientific community,” Vallabh told ThePrint.

“There is no question of doubting our scientists or their research. All we are saying is that the vaccine should have fulfilled all the regulatory requirements,” he added.

War of words with Hardeep Puri

Both Tharoor and Ramesh faced backlash from the ruling BJP over their remarks, with Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri saying they were “behaving true to form”.

“They first questioned the valour of our soldiers & are now unhappy that the two vaccines to get DCGI nod are made in India. Clearly they are on a quest for permanent political marginalization,” Puri tweeted.

 

Tharoor, however, hit back saying he “would be happy and proud if more Indian vaccines are approved— but only after a full 3-phase trial confirms they are safe & effective.

“Short-circuiting the process is unprecedented, inadvisable & risks lives,” he tweeted.

 

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