The following two articles appearing in The Hindu on 10 Jan 2021 raise concerns about a vaccine for COVID 19 being promoted to be rolled out without the stage three clinical trial  as the trial seems to be still going on! 

The independent Vaccinologists and Virologists in India have questioned this policy of the government. The Russian and Chinese Vaccines were under suspect on account of this deficiency.

Initially the government indicated that the second vaccine whose clinical trial in stage three is yet  to be over would be used only in an emergency, but that is not how it is being rolled out. The recipients have no choice to choose from the two vaccines about to be available from 16 Jan 2021.

I feel confused as to how an urgency can set aside scientific norms and established practices in Vaccinology, just because the government is keen to show case a vaccine conceived and manufactured her in India!

The key issues are safety and efficacy for a vaccine. When it is too early to be conclusive about the one of the vaccines, is it fair to push such a vaccine for administration due to the compulsions on our political masters!

Science is the guiding path for human wellness. When other considerations interfere with this golden rule, we make ourselves most vulnerable!

I write this with some anguish as a citizen is not given a choice to choose a vaccine of his or her preference!

I wish the institutions while recommending a vaccine for its staff would help the staff to choose by making known to them the current status of one of the Vaccines, recommended for use form Jan 16, 2021. 

 

M.C.Mathew(text and the article reproduced form The Hindu, 10, Jan 2021)