Pfizer, Moderna Vax May Be In India Soon

But Pharma Cos Stay Silent On Patent Waiver

- Chidanand Rajghatta & Rupali Mukherjee

Washington/Mumbai: India could get access to Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna over the next few months.

The US pharma giant Pfizer said on Monday that it is in talks with New Delhi for an “expedited approval pathway” to roll-out its messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. It did not provide details of the doses, price or specific timelines of the launch. Pfizer was the first company to seek emergency use authorisation for its vaccine in India late last year, but withdrew in February after the drugs regulator sought local safety studies. Last month, it said it will offer the vaccine at a “not-for-profit’’ price for the government’s immunisation programme.

In the case of Moderna, the US firm said it will deliver 34 million doses of its mRNA vaccine to low-income countries, which could include India and Brazil, as part of the WHObacked Covax initiative. Through an agreement, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance also retains the option to procure an additional 466 million doses in 2022 at the lowest-tiered price.