Queency Jain
The Kerala High Court asked the Central Government to give time frame within which vaccines allotted will be supplied to the state of Kerala.
Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and MR Anitha while hearing a plea on transfer on technology and patent rights for Bharat Biotech’s vaccine, COVAXIN, made an oral request and sought the center’s response on the same.
Advocate Prasanth Sugathan, appearing on behalf of petitioners, contended that there are more than 19 other vaccine manufacturers who will be able to produce the vaccine if only the Centre transfers the technology of the same. “It is not rocket science”, he stated.
He also referred the Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (KSDP) in this regards.
While standing counsel Raj Kumar, advocate on the behalf of the Centre, argued that this is a matter of Centre Government policy, the Court on its part expressed concern whether there are sufficient bio-safety level to manufacture the vaccine in the State.
Observing that the vaccine requires level 3 bio-safety facilities for the production, Justice Vijayaraghavan queried whether there are any laboratories that can produce the vaccine safely.
The court while referring to the statistics uploaded on the State’s website, expressed concern over the number of persons yet to be vaccinated and requested the Centre, “Give a time frame within which vaccines will be supplied to Kerala, the way in which (it is to be supplied) and the time within which vaccines can be supplied for immunizing Kerala, give a timeline so we can get a picture. We want to just get an idea.”
The Centre, in return, assured to file a statement by Friday next week, on this aspect and the matter was adjourned to 21 May, for the Centre’s submission on vaccine availability.