The Rise of Vaccine Nationalism

gwb-trading said:
It's not only vaccines but other medicines used to treat COVID-19 being "nationalized". India is one of the leading manufacturers of Remdesivir. This decision basically eliminates most of the new Remdesivir doses available to the rest of the world.

India bans exports of anti-viral drug Remdesivir as COVID-19 cases surge
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-remdesivir-idUSKBN2BY0EG

India said on Sunday it had banned the export of anti-viral drug Remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredients after a record spike in COVID-19 cases sent demand surging.

“In light of the above, Government of India has prohibited the exports of Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) till the situation improves,” the health ministry said in a statement.

Seven Indian companies have licensed the drug from Gilead Sciences, with an installed capacity of about 3.9 million units per month.
More...

India has a big problem with the growing distrust of the vaccination due to the misinformation campaign in India along with many hospitals at over-capacity that's resulted in patients sharing the same bed...

I can understand why they're not willing to share their Covid therapies because their need is greater than everybody else right now. Yet, I'm not sure if Brazil is a client of India involving the anti-viral drug Remdesivir.

If Brazil gets its Covid therapies from India..that would then be a very interesting scenario concerning Vaccine Nationalism or Covid Therapy Nationalism in India with them now banning the export of the drug.

wrbtrader
 
gwb-trading said:
It's not only vaccines but other medicines used to treat COVID-19 being "nationalized". India is one of the leading manufacturers of Remdesivir. This decision basically eliminates most of the new Remdesivir doses available to the rest of the world.

India bans exports of anti-viral drug Remdesivir as COVID-19 cases surge
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-remdesivir-idUSKBN2BY0EG

India said on Sunday it had banned the export of anti-viral drug Remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredients after a record spike in COVID-19 cases sent demand surging.

“In light of the above, Government of India has prohibited the exports of Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) till the situation improves,” the health ministry said in a statement.

Seven Indian companies have licensed the drug from Gilead Sciences, with an installed capacity of about 3.9 million units per month.
More...

Let's take a look at what India is doing with the doses of Remdesivir that they nationalized. The politicians are handing out Remdesivir injections to their supporters who are lining up for shots. No need to have COVID -- come on down and get your Remdesivir. What a waste.

Covid-19: Gujarat BJP under fire after leader procures 5,000 Remdesivir injections amid shortage
The state party chief CR Paatil announced the free distribution of the drug in his hometown even as hospitals ran out of stocks.
https://scroll.in/latest/992040/cov...ures-5000-remdesivir-injections-amid-shortage

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Gujarat unit chief CR Paatil last week announced the free distribution of 5,000 doses of the Remdesivir drug in his hometown of Surat amid a shortage of the medicine, leading to a controversy, The Indian Express reported on Monday.

Remdesivir, which is used to treat critical patients suffering from Covid-19, can only be supplied in hospitals and by pharmacists upon the prescription of a doctor treating the virus. In June, the Drug Controller General of India had cleared Remdesivir for restricted use in an emergency situation. Amid the rise in demand for the drug, the Centre on Sunday banned its export indefinitely.

Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadila has been selling Remdesivir injections through its hospitals at a subsidised rate since April 5, and had plans to do so till Monday. However, on Friday, Zydus said that it had run out of stock and would not able to provide the drug until further notice, The Indian Express reported.

But the same day, Paatil announced the free distribution of 5,000 injections of the drug in Surat. BJP offices in Surat began distributing the injections on Saturday, The Hindu reported.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, on being questioned on the matter, said: “Ask him [Paatil] how he has managed to get the stock.”

So, the next day, Gujarat-based daily Divya Bhaskar published Paatil’s phone number as its front-page headline, urging readers to seek a response from the BJP leader. “Despite standing in line for hours, people are not getting Remdesivir injections, so how did BJP President CR Paatil get 5,000 injections,” the newspaper asked. “The government must respond.”

Meanwhile, the Gujarat BJP defended Paatil. “As per the instructions of our president, local traders bought [the drug] in whichever available quantity on their own, from Gujarat and outside,” the party’s media convener Yagnesh Dave said on Sunday, according to The Indian Express.

Paatil himself changed his statement on how he had managed to procure the drug. On Friday, he had said that the BJP had arranged to buy 5,000 injections from Zydus. However, on Saturday, speaking on the sidelines of a party event, he said the party was only “supplementing the distribution”, and the injections were bought by “friends”.

Gujarat HC files PIL on coronavirus situation
Meanwhile, the Gujarat High Court on Sunday initiated a public interest litigation taking suo motu cognisance of the pandemic situation in the state, PTI reported. The plea was filed based on media reports, which, the court observed, indicated that the state was heading towards a “health emergency of sorts”.

Chief Justice Vikram Nath said that the volume of reports in newspapers having nationwide circulation cannot be ignored, Bar and Bench reported.

“The newspapers, news channels are flooded with the harrowing tales, unfortunate and unimaginable difficulties, unmanageable conditions of the infrastructure, the shortfall and the deficit of not only testing, availability of beds and ICU [Intensive Care Unit], but also supply of oxygen and the basic medicines like Remdesivir,” the court order on the plea noted.

The petition will be heard on Monday by a division bench comprising Nath and Justice Bhargav D Karia.
 
Let's see what is going on with Remdesivir in India now that the government has nationalized the supply, stopped exports and politicians are freely handing out doses of Remdesivir to people who don't even have COVID.

So they are ramping up production and forcefully cutting the price -- all I suppose so politicians can freely hand out more Remdesivir doses as a preventative so they can get more votes. Ignoring of course that Remdesivir does not act as a preventative.

Remdesivir manufacturers to cut price, ramp up production amid COVID-19 spike
https://www.livemint.com/news/india...ction-amid-covid-19-spike-11618401114349.html
  • Manufacturers of Remdesivir have volunteered to reduce the price to less than ₹3,500 by end of this week
  • Seven Indian companies are producing Injection Remdesivir under voluntary licensing agreement with M/s. Gilead Sciences, USA
Amid the shortage of the anti-viral drug Remdesivir in the wake of surge in novel coronavirus cases in the country, the Indian government on Wednesday said that after a recent meeting with all-existing manufacturers of the drug and other stakeholders, decisions have been taken to increase production and supply and reduce prices of Remdesivir.

In a statement on Wednesday, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed that the current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of Remdesivir is 38.80 lakh vials per month.

Fast-track approval has been given for seven additional sites having the production capacity of 10 lakh vials per month to six manufacturers. Another 30 lakh vials per month production is lined up. This would ramp up the production capacity for manufacturing to around 78 lakh vials/month, the government added.

It also added that manufacturers of Remdesivir have volunteered to reduce the price to less than ₹3,500 by the end of this week in order to contain the spread of the virus and contribute to the Centre's efforts.

They have also been directed to give priority to fulfil hospital/institutional level supplies.

Meanwhile, Union health Minster Harsh Vardhan today said, "Shortage of Remdesivir happened because its production was reduced as COVID-19 cases were decreasing. Our drug controller and ministry held a meeting with stakeholders and asked manufacturers to strengthen the production."

As an additional measure, Remdesivir, API and formulation were placed under Export ban on 11.04.2021 by DGFT to increase the supply of Remdesivir in the Domestic Market. On Government intervention, Remdesivir supplies of approximately 4 lakh vials meant for export is being diverted by manufacturers to fulfil domestic requirement. EOU/SEZ units are also being enabled to supply to the domestic market.

Enforcement Authorities of States and Central Govt. have been directed by DCGI to take immediate action on incidence of black-marketing, hoarding and overcharging of Remdesivir.
 
Wonder why the cases in India are rising so rapidly.

But not to worry, jem has assured us that COVID does not spread at large gatherings outdoors such as Florida spring break or religious festivals.

India’s Covid-19 cases hit new record as crowds mass at Ganges for Hindu festival
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pa...d-as-crowds-mass-at-ganges-for-hindu-festival

kumbh-mela2021.webp
 
What the hell are you babbling about?
First of all I have said numerous times there is no evidence significant outdoor spread... especially during normal outdoor activities.

a. Where does it say the spread is happening outdoors?
b You realize that using contact tracing India found the biggest risk of spread was long distance travel?
c. Do all those people in the picture look like they live on the River?
d. Plus you don't think these people go indoors at some point?

Finally, do you really think that in anyway resembles a normal activity.
Do you usually stand around naked next to thousands of people and take photos.

Don't be such an ignorant fear monger.

Bring the stats...
 
India shifts from mass vaccine exporter to importer, worrying the world
https://www.reuters.com/world/india...-exporter-importer-worrying-world-2021-04-16/

After gifting and selling tens of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses abroad, India suddenly finds itself short of shots as new infections surge in the world's second-most populous country.

India breached 200,000 daily infections for the first time on Thursday, and is trying to inoculate more of its population using domestically produced shots.

Facing soaring cases and overflowing hospitals after lockdown restrictions were eased, it also abruptly changed the rules to allow it to fast-track vaccine imports, having earlier rebuffed foreign drugmakers like Pfizer (PFE.N). read more

It will import Russia's Sputnik V vaccine starting this month to cover as many as 125 million people.

The reversal in fortunes could hamper not only India's battle to contain the pandemic, but also vaccination campaigns in more than 60 poorer countries, mainly in Africa, for months.

The COVAX programme, backed by the World Health Organization and Gavi vaccine alliance, aims at equitable vaccine access around the world, and is relying heavily on supplies from India, Asia's pharmaceutical powerhouse.

But so far this month India has only exported around 1.2 million vaccine doses. That compares with 64 million doses shipped abroad between late January and March, according to data from the foreign ministry.

An official with knowledge of India's vaccine strategy said that available shots would be used domestically while the country faced an "emergency situation".

"There is no commitment to other countries," he said.

India's foreign ministry, which oversees vaccine deals with other countries, said last week that Indian demand would dictate the level of exports.

Resulting shortages are already being felt in some countries in the COVAX scheme, and a U.N. health official involved in the vaccine rollout in Africa said: "To be so reliant on one manufacturer is a massive concern."

The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, said earlier this month delays in supplies from India could be "catastrophic". read more
 
Covid-19: Serum Institute chief urges US to lift export ban to boost vaccine production
The US had invoked a federal law in February to enforce the ban in order to ramp up the production of Pfizer vaccines.
https://scroll.in/latest/992481/cov...o-lift-export-ban-to-boost-vaccine-production

Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla on Friday requested United States President Joe Biden to lift the embargo on raw material exports to help in ramping up the production of coronavirus vaccines.

The Serum Institute is currently manufacturing Covishield, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The vaccine is being used in India as well as supplied to other countries.

The US had imposed the export ban in February, reported NDTV. It had invoked the Defense Production Act which gives the US administration the powers to control the distribution of products for a “short term”. This was done to boost supplies needed to make Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccines.

Poonawalla’s comment came at a time when India is tackling the second coronavirus wave. India on Friday reported 2,17,353 new coronavirus cases, taking its tally to 1,42,91,917. This is the highest figure recorded so far since the pandemic began in January 2020. The toll increased to 1,74,308 with 1,185 deaths, the highest since September 19.

In March, the Serum Institute chief and World Health Organization chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan had warned of a shortage in raw materials needed to manufacture coronavirus vaccines. Poonawalla had told a World Bank panel that the Defense Production Act, blocking the export of certain items, including bags and filters, could cause serious hindrance in the production.

He said that a discussion was needed with the Biden administration to explain to them that there was enough material to go around. “We are talking about having free global access to vaccines but if we can’t get the raw materials out of the US – that’s going to be a serious limiting factor.”

In April, Poonawalla had said that his company’s existing capacity to manufacture coronavirus vaccine Covishield was “very stressed” and it required Rs 3,000 crore to increase production by June. He had also said that AstraZeneca has served a legal notice to Serum Institute for delays in supplying the vaccine.
 
gwb-trading said:
India shifts from mass vaccine exporter to importer, worrying the world
https://www.reuters.com/world/india...-exporter-importer-worrying-world-2021-04-16/

After gifting and selling tens of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses abroad, India suddenly finds itself short of shots as new infections surge in the world's second-most populous country.

India breached 200,000 daily infections for the first time on Thursday, and is trying to inoculate more of its population using domestically produced shots.

Facing soaring cases and overflowing hospitals after lockdown restrictions were eased, it also abruptly changed the rules to allow it to fast-track vaccine imports, having earlier rebuffed foreign drugmakers like Pfizer (PFE.N). read more

It will import Russia's Sputnik V vaccine starting this month to cover as many as 125 million people.

The reversal in fortunes could hamper not only India's battle to contain the pandemic, but also vaccination campaigns in more than 60 poorer countries, mainly in Africa, for months.

The COVAX programme, backed by the World Health Organization and Gavi vaccine alliance, aims at equitable vaccine access around the world, and is relying heavily on supplies from India, Asia's pharmaceutical powerhouse.

But so far this month India has only exported around 1.2 million vaccine doses. That compares with 64 million doses shipped abroad between late January and March, according to data from the foreign ministry.

An official with knowledge of India's vaccine strategy said that available shots would be used domestically while the country faced an "emergency situation".

"There is no commitment to other countries," he said.

India's foreign ministry, which oversees vaccine deals with other countries, said last week that Indian demand would dictate the level of exports.

Resulting shortages are already being felt in some countries in the COVAX scheme, and a U.N. health official involved in the vaccine rollout in Africa said: "To be so reliant on one manufacturer is a massive concern."

The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, said earlier this month delays in supplies from India could be "catastrophic". read more
More...
gwb-trading said:
Covid-19: Serum Institute chief urges US to lift export ban to boost vaccine production
The US had invoked a federal law in February to enforce the ban in order to ramp up the production of Pfizer vaccines.
https://scroll.in/latest/992481/cov...o-lift-export-ban-to-boost-vaccine-production

Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla on Friday requested United States President Joe Biden to lift the embargo on raw material exports to help in ramping up the production of coronavirus vaccines.

The Serum Institute is currently manufacturing Covishield, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The vaccine is being used in India as well as supplied to other countries.

The US had imposed the export ban in February, reported NDTV. It had invoked the Defense Production Act which gives the US administration the powers to control the distribution of products for a “short term”. This was done to boost supplies needed to make Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccines.

Poonawalla’s comment came at a time when India is tackling the second coronavirus wave. India on Friday reported 2,17,353 new coronavirus cases, taking its tally to 1,42,91,917. This is the highest figure recorded so far since the pandemic began in January 2020. The toll increased to 1,74,308 with 1,185 deaths, the highest since September 19.

In March, the Serum Institute chief and World Health Organization chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan had warned of a shortage in raw materials needed to manufacture coronavirus vaccines. Poonawalla had told a World Bank panel that the Defense Production Act, blocking the export of certain items, including bags and filters, could cause serious hindrance in the production.

He said that a discussion was needed with the Biden administration to explain to them that there was enough material to go around. “We are talking about having free global access to vaccines but if we can’t get the raw materials out of the US – that’s going to be a serious limiting factor.”

In April, Poonawalla had said that his company’s existing capacity to manufacture coronavirus vaccine Covishield was “very stressed” and it required Rs 3,000 crore to increase production by June. He had also said that AstraZeneca has served a legal notice to Serum Institute for delays in supplying the vaccine.
More...


A lot of this is bullshit. The AZ hold up or non-acceptance too.

They are supposed to be following the science and following the FDA and European Agency standards of just proving that the benefits outweigh risks.

So we are holding up/taking down AZ for a dozen or so blood clot case, assuming what- that the vaccine would not also save some lives- as in many. And pfizer as well. The benefits clearly outweigh the risks. There are thousands of approved prescription drugs on the market that have equal or greater risks.

The countries and regulators are actually kind of moody rather than scientific. One week they have no vaccines so are gung ho to keep everything up and running. The next week they think they are up to their arses in vaccine so can be choosy and difficult and now countries are back to sweating about having enough vaccines. Both pfizer and AZ provide benefits that outweigh the risks, and yes they are not without risks. Welcome to the real world of pharmaceuticals which some people seem to be learning about for the first time.

There are risks to taking that chinese, indian, and russian shiite too and I can guarantee ya that it is more than the AZ risk- including the risk that they are not sufficiently effective which causes deaths too.
 
gwb-trading said:
The Biden Administration tells India to buzz off, 'Merica first yeah!

US denies Indian request to lift ban on export of vaccine raw materials
Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people, says spokesperson
https://tribune.com.pk/story/229647...o-lift-ban-on-export-of-vaccine-raw-materials
More...

The painful irony there is that India (and I am not necessarily faulting them here) is right at the head of the pack (followed by some European countries) when it comes to vaccine nationalism.

India is the largest vaccine manufacturing country in the word and owes vaccine to Europe and a billion shots to Covax/WHO as the major supplier to that program- planned supplier anyway. But along the way, India's covid cases went parabolic so India stiffed Europe and the WHO (and thereby the third world) by using those supplies in India. So even though American's are usually the first to get the "nationalism" pie put in our face, we ain't even close to the front of the pack in that regard.

The other issue shaping up is that many dems and many countries are starting to request that Joe and company use wartime powers to seize the intellectual and patent rights of a couple of the vaccine makers so that other countries can produce them generically.
 
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