To get a fast-track approval for its Covid-19 vaccine, the U.S. major Pfizer has told Indian authorities that its “high effectiveness” against the SARS-CoV-2 variant prevalent in India. It is best suitable for everyone who is aged 12 or above years. Additionally, it is stored for a month at 2-8 degrees.
Pfizer is agreed to provide 5 crore doses to India from July to October. It has also sought few relaxations including indemnification. As per the source, “the current situation in India“, and across the world, is not ‘business as usual and we must not respond to it with processes as usual too.”
Another source discusses that the recent meetings between Pfizer’s Chairman and Indian government and CEO Albert Bourla, they have agreed to work collaboratively on three key issues in order to get approval as soon as possible.
Pfizer said that India should rely on the 44 authorizations, including facilitating a EUA (Emergency Use Authorisation)/Restricted Use pathway and WHO approval, and not seek a local PSA (Post Approval Commitment) study.”
Since mid-January, India has administered more than 20 crore doses so far. Still, India is a quite far long way to complete the vaccination for the entire population. India is currently using mainly two ‘made-in India‘ jabs – Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech – and Russian-made Sputnik V for those aged 18 years and above.
Pfizer said that the “Recent data points confirm the high effectiveness of BNT612b2 2-dose regimen against SARS-CoV-2 variants, and among individuals of Indian ethnicity.”
As per the data, the UK’s Public Health England (PHE) has reported high vaccine effectiveness (87.9%) against the B.1.617.2 variant, highly reported in India. Furthermore, 26% of study participants overall were of “Indian or British Indian” ethnicity. Also, included Pakistani (5.9%), Bangladeshi (1.4%), any other Asian background (5.7%).
