Thread by @menakadoshi

Serum Institute needs Rs 3,000 crore to add vaccine capacity.

There's an easy fix to this if the govt won't help (though why it won't is baffling)

Just allow companies to donate to new vaccine facilities under CSR.

Can be held via separate subsidiary, run on non profit basis?

This is what the Top 10 company spends on CSR were in FY20.

Let's assume numbers are smaller for FY21.

Yet, 3,000 crore is not an inconceivable amount.

Give them a special tax deduction for it if needed. A one time thing.

Why just Serum? Let a few more capacities be identified, based on company track record and approvals.

It cannot be that India can't come up with a few thousand crores to overcome this pandemic.

If govt won't (I have no idea what PM Cares does) then allow private sector to fund.

Infact, even a supplier's credit type model can work.

Companies can contract minimum purchase of vaccines from these select manufacturers.

Especially given so many companies are willing to fund internal vaccination drives.

For those making wisecracks about Serum.

Which manufacturer can add capacity without clear offtake committments?

If they don't know how much govt will buy or how much they can sell to others...how will they raise funds?

Our vaccine procurement policy seems to be adhoc at best.

Anyways, just an idea. In the spirit of getting out of this mess.

Because this mess is taking lives. Anything is better than that.

Best of course would be govt funds additional capacities across manufacturers.

But 🤷🏻‍♀️

Btw, let me be clear...

It's not my intention to suggest pvt sector do what govt ought to.

We pay taxes for this stuff.

Not to fund large religious gatherings or subsidise overseas pilgrimages. (See what I did there).

But it has been a year. And there is no clear policy.

If govt can't or won't do it then let private sector do it.

No solution will be perfect. No solution will help vaccinate all immediately. No solution will be fully equitable.

But every step will help.

Or else next April we'll be having the same conversation.

Some responses are funny.

Why not PM Cares?
I genuinely don't know. All I know is we can't keep doing nothing.

Why can't manufacturers take loans?
Cause it's a controlled item and the one main buyer hasn't articulated a clear procurement policy. Nor has it allowed pvt sales.

More responses...

India's budget can't afford 3,000 cr or whatever other manufacturers need?

Ofcourse it can. That would be fastest, easiest.

I don't know why it won't. I don't know why we haven't as yet.

Only govt can answer that.

I'm just thinking of alternate solutions.

Best response yet.

Levy Covid vaccine cess on all fuel sales.

🤦🏻‍♀️

We also need to resolve the input supply problem.

We also need to expand distribution.

We also need other solutions to augment supply.

Ofcourse we need to fix healthcare.

You didn't seriously think a tweet thread would solve the entire problem?

It's just one idea.