Adar Poonawalla seeking government protection for vaccine makers against lawsuits triggers debate

By Asianet Newsable English | First Published Dec 20, 2020, 10:30 AM IST

The suggestion by Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of the world's largest vaccine maker Serum Institute of India, asking the government to indemnify manufacturers against lawsuits has triggered a massive debate.

Addressing the Global Technology Summit 2020, organised by Carnegie India, Adar Poonawalla had 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. What's happening is when frivolous claims come up, and you see in the media something blown out of proportion... To dispel that the government needs to step in, with messaging with influencers to spread the right message."

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The remarks sparked off discussion on social media with netizens questioning Adar Poonawalla's suggestion

Some fields require precision finishing 100 out of 100 scores. Imagine US had banned a pharmaceutical plant for exports to them because somebody arm hair had gone in one of tablet & an insect in canned mushroom & entire plant was closed for exports to US. "Adar Poonawalla"

— Nuryanana (@nuryanana_kaush)

Adar Poonawalla should not make statements in Public that cast doubt. He should only talk about sciece and nothing else.

— Anirudh Agrawal, Ph.D. (@Anirudh_Agrawal)

Compltly agree wd wht Adar mentioned! Infct I wd also emphasise d fact that if any volunteer registers fr vaccine trial, he/she has to mandatorily appear for the same! This needs indemnification! Recent challenges wd bharat biotech is a case in point

— Nilanjan Sen (@nilanjan_2wts)

Government must protect vaccine makers against lawsuits: SII’s Adar Poonawalla

Such an unprofessional statement.
It says it all .. How vaccine will be.

— Asifuddin (@Asifuddin__)

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