THREAD
On why the argument that India ought to have vaccinated its "own" people before supplying other countries is misplaced for several reasons. First, the vaccine manufactured by SII is subject to conditions from original funders (not GoI), Covax, the multilateral facility.
On why the argument that India ought to have vaccinated its "own" people before supplying other countries is misplaced for several reasons. First, the vaccine manufactured by SII is subject to conditions from original funders (not GoI), Covax, the multilateral facility.
2. These orders pre-date the GoI's orders both in time and qty. The Covax facility provided funding to AstraZeneca/SII conditional on supplies, so there are contractual obligations. It is another matter that the NaMo Govt tried use it to fly the Vishwaguru flag.
3. There is simply no way SII’s obligations could have been avoided. So far, about 180 million doses have been delivered in India; about 66 m doses have been exported. Significantly, this 1/3 ratio (roughly) may be the division of supplies between domestic and exports in future
4. Of course, this may not apply to Covaxin, which is not part of the Covax regime. In Aug 2020, 5 months BEFORE the NaMo Govt placed its first order with SII (piddly 11 m doses), Covax signed an agreement with SII for 100 m doses. In Sept 2020 this was increased to 200 m doses.
5. SII promised to “prioritise” supplies to Covax, in parallel to domestic commitments it may have had. It had none then! SII received $300 m to “derisk” its operations and build capacity.
5. SII promised to “prioritise” supplies to Covax, in parallel to domestic commitments it may have had. It had none then! SII received $300 m to “derisk” its operations and build capacity.
6. The vaccine nationalism argument only deflects attention from the real problem — that the NaMo Govt has miserably failed to harness the needed vaccine capacity to defend the people of the country in the pandemic.
7. This includes reviving other possible capacities, including the PSU capacities that could have been re-purposed, IF only it had acted in time and with purpose.
8. A notable example of this wanton neglect is the utter unwillingness to revive the Integrated Vaccine Complex (near Chennai), built at substantial cost to the exchequer, but which has remained idle. Nationalism can begin from here. END
@threadreaderapp pl unroll
@threadreaderapp Pl unroll
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
