The growth of the Indian pharmaceutical industry has been a cause of heartburn for the west, which considers itself as the primary source of technologies and products. The development of vaccines against Covid 19 within four months of their commencement is a laudable effort, which must make every Indian proud. We have now four vaccines, and thirteen more are soon to be introduced after they complete the test protocols.
The Serum Institute of India collaborated with AstraZeneca to produce Covishield, the quality strictly vetted by the overseas partner. Covaxin, the second vax, was indigenous. If the second vax was prematurely introduced, I guess the scientists must’ve weighed the consequences before their administration to the public.
I must digress a bit on the education sector abroad. Despite the quality of education getting better in India, it still lacks the number of seats. The research and later job opportunities are still better abroad.
Most Universities commence their courses in August, and the students must begin to depart now. At this juncture, there is a serious impediment. Covaxin is yet to get a clearance abroad. Covishield also has been excluded from the EU vax list, which is now limited to Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca-Oxford, Vaxzervria and Johnson & Johnson. The refusal to recognize Indian vax is an act of highhandedness of the European Union and the other countries.
Indian government must move speedily, lest the students miss their year, many after paying their hefty fees. A few countries may permit entry, subject to quarantine at their own cost, at hotels decided by the authorities, costing lakhs of rupees. In urgent need to travel, businesspeople also face the same problem, which is bound to tell on the economy.
India is needed for quad, for IT, to resonate with their political views, but when it comes to brass tacks, due respect must be accorded, rather than treating it as a slave colony.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
