Pfizer: Vaccine works on strain found in India

The American Pharma giant, Pfizer has told the government its Covid vaccine shows “high effectiveness” against the India-dominant variant experts believe is behind the second wave of infections in the country, sources told news agency PTI.

It further added that its vaccine had been proven suitable for everyone over 12, and can be stored for a month in cold storage facilities with a temperature range of 2-8 degrees Celsius.

According to PTI, Pfizer told the Indian government it should “rely on the 44 authorisations, including WHO approval (to) facilitate emergency use authorisation…”

Also, the company is open to considering surveillance of the first 100 subjects to get its vaccine.

According to PTI sources, it has shared the most recent data points regarding trials, efficacy rates and approvals from various countries and by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Last week, Delhi government approached Pfizer (and Moderna, another US pharma giant with a Covid vaccine) and was looking to buy vaccines directly from them. The offer was rejected; Pfizer cited company policy to said that it would only deal with Central Government.

On the other hand, Moderna cited similar policies to refuse the Punjab government.

So far, India has administered over 20 crore vaccine doses but is still a long way to go as it has to vaccinate the 130-crore population.