SII’s Adar Poonawalla: Covid vaccine makers must be shielded from lawsuits

Serum Institute of India’s CEO Adar Poonawalla wants the government to protect manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines against lawsuits. He said that the makers should be given protection against liability in case there are any serious adverse reactions to their shots.

Poonawalla said at the Carnegie India’s Global Technology Summit, “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).”

He added that the government should make a law to protect vaccine manufacturers. Instead of addressing legal issues and explaining the media about serious adverse events. The companies would focus on developing and manufacturing the vaccines.

Poonawal received support from World Health Organization chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan. He said that the multilateral organization has drafted a model “indemnification language” for its COVAX facility that it is asking all countries to adopt.

The US has invoked a law, that during a pandemic to indemnify vaccine manufacturers against lawsuits for severe adverse effects or any other frivolous claims.

Poonawala’s call comes on the back of a ₹5 crore legal notice. A participant, who had taken SII’s Covishield as part of clinical trials alleged that the vaccine had caused severe neurological side-effects. SII, however, rejected the charges as “malicious and misconceived”. They have threatened to sue the participant in excess of Rs 100 crore.

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