Pfizer's Insistence On Protection Against Lawsuits In Case Of Adverse Events Stalls India Approval Of Its Covid Jab: Report

Pfizer has reportedly demanded protection against liability arising out of the adverse events linked to its Covid-19 vaccine in India.

The United States pharma major is yet to get approval in India for its Covid-19 vaccine that it has developed in collaboration with BioNTech.

The discussions over the Pfizer vaccine's roll-out in India have been stalled as the company has asked the government to indemnify it against lawsuits in case of adverse effects linked to its jab, reports Economic Times.

The US pharma giant has reportedly signed an indemnity clause with many countries that are using its vaccine. The clause absolves the company from paying any legal cost in case of an adverse event.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla had on Monday (3 May) said that the company is in discussions with the Indian government for an "expedited approval pathway" for its Covid-19 vaccine.

However, Pfizer's demand for indemnity has become a major roadblock in the discussions as India, unlike other countries, does not offer any protection against adverse effects such as serious illness or death caused by the vaccine.

“This cannot be given to one company. If it is given to Pfizer then the domestic companies will ask for the same too,” a government officials was quoted by ET as saying.

It should be noted that the two Covid-19 vaccines approved in India - Serum Institute of India's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin - has not been granted indemnity against lawsuits in case of adverse events.

While granting emergency licensese to SII and Bharat Biotech for their Covid vaccines, the government had not accepted the vaccine makers demand that they be indemnified against mishaps.