Bharat Biotech stated that if any of the recipients of the Covaxin gets serious adverse effects, the company will provide compensation. The recipient experiencing side effects will be provided medically recognised standard of care in government designated hospitals and authorised centres. It may be noted that Bharat Biotech has received a government purchase order of 55 lakh doses of Covaxin.

The consent form signed by the recipients of Covaxin said, “The compensation of serious adverse event will be paid by sponsor (BIBL) in case the adverse effect is proven to be causally related to the vaccine.”

Also added in the consent form is the necessity of the basic social mandate. The consent form says that receiving the vaccine does not mean that the other precautions related to Covid-19 need not be followed. An industry expert also stated that the company is liable to pay compensation as the vaccine is being administered while in the clinical trial mode.

The clinical efficacy of the vaccine is yet to be established and it is still being studied in phase 3 clinical trials.

(media reports)