Adar Poonawalla, CEO, SII

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of world’s largest vaccine manufacturer – Serum Institute of India (SII), has said that the manufacturers of vaccines should be protected by the government against lawsuits filed against them in case there is any serious adverse reaction or any other claim by people taking COVID-19 vaccine shots. 

Poonawalla, who made the comments during a virtual panel discussion on challenges to vaccine development during the Carnegie India’s Global Technology Summit, said that such issues could ?bankrupt or distract? companies making these shots while adding that his company plans to propose this to the government. 

Poonawalla said: We need to have the government indemnify manufacturers, especially vaccine manufacturers, against all lawsuits. In fact, COVAX and other countries have already started talking about that. He added: This is especially important only during a pandemic to indemnify vaccine manufacturers against lawsuits for severe adverse effects or any other frivolous claims, which may come about because that adds to the fear (about vaccines).

Poonawalla also remarked that government should bring a law so that companies can focus on development of vaccines rather than legal issues. He said: The government can act. The US, for example, has in fact invoked a law, to say that during a pandemic and this is especially important only during a pandemic to indemnify vaccine manufacturers against lawsuits for severe adverse effects or any other frivolous claims which may come about. Because that adds to the fear and also will bankrupt vaccine manufacturers or distract them if they have to just all day just fight lawsuits and explain to the media what is happening.

SII has teamed up with Oxford University and AstraZeneca for the development of COVID-19 vaccine. SII has already requested for approval of vaccine on December 6.