Congress questions Centre on COVAXIN & COVISHIELD's prices; asks 'why export allowed?'

Stirring more politics over Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, Congress on Sunday posed several questions to Centre regarding pricing of two vaccines - Serum Institute of India (SII)'s COVISHIELD and Bharat Biotech (BBL)'s COVAXIN. dressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked why COVAXIN was priced higher than COVISHIELD and why COVISHIELD's private market price was Rs 1000. Claiming that vaccine manufacturers will make profits due to bulk orders, Surjewala also asked why vaccine export was being allowed amid pan-India vaccination.

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Congress poses Questions to Centre on vaccines  

• Why is Modi government giving 95 rupees more for this vaccine to Bharat Biotech? Shouldn't this vaccine cost less than Serum Institute's vaccine - AstraZeneca? 
• When 'Covishield Vaccine' SII To Government ₹ 200 / dose, n how can y be allowed to rob pocket of people by selling it at 500% profit in market?
• Why is Modi government t demanding transparency from companies in 'cost of production', 'licensing' and 'margin of profit'? Why is Corona Vaccine Export Permitted? Why was entire population of India allowed to export vaccine before being vaccinated?
• Who will get free corona vaccine? How many people will be given free corana vaccine? Where can you get a free corona vaccine? 

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Vaccine politics

Politicisation over vaccine was started by Samajwi Party chief Akhilesh Yav who said hat 'I will t get vaccinated - that too on BJP's vaccine (COVID-19), as I don't trust it, at a press conference in Luckw. While some Opposition politicians backed his claims, Congress MP Manish Tewari took a different view, questioning lack of public data of Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN's trials and efficacy. Voicing out concerns of various experts, Tewari claimed that doctrine of informed consent violated as recipients did t have choice between COVAXIN and COVISHIELD.

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Replying to Congress MP, Union Health Minister once again assure Tewari that safety of vaccine was assured and tested by top Indian experts. Dr. Harsh Vardhan explained that COVAXIN is more likely to work against newer variants like N501Y Variant (UK variant) & any or variant and clarified hat COVAXIN was given a different approval i.e 'clinical trial mode' - where all COVAXIN recipients will be tracked, monitored as if y’re in trial. All beneficiaries have to sign a consent form which promises compensation in case of 'verse effects'. se conditions and alleged 'rush in approval' for COVAXIN have been questioned by several experts.   government has alrey purchased 1.1 crore COVISHIELD vaccine doses and 55 lakh COVAXIN vaccine shots - aiming to vaccinate 3 crore frontline warriors, in first phase.

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