Amid controversy over the “side effects” of Covishield vaccine, Samajwadi Party leaders on Tuesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party took “commission” from the manufacturer of the Covid vaccine which was “forcibly” administered to people.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue and alleged that the PM has played with the lives of people. “Is this Modi’s guarantee?” he asked.
UK-headquartered pharma giant AstraZeneca has admitted that in “very rare cases”, its COVID-19 vaccine, which is known as Vaxzevria in Europe and Covishield in India, can cause a blood clot-related side effect but the causal link is unknown, according to court papers being quoted in the UK media.
In India, the AstraZeneca vaccine was manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
Attacking the ruling BJP over the issue, SP national general secretary Shivpal Yadav said, “It has been exposed now that they have taken commission in vaccines too. Low quality vaccines and medicines were given to the people.” Shivpal Yadav was talking to reporters in Etah.
Dimple Yadav, wife of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, said people were “forcibly” administered Covid vaccines in the country.
“A donation of Rs 200-300 crore was taken (by the BJP) and they (company) were given permission to market the vaccine…,” said Dimple Yadav, who is the SP candidate from Mainpuri Lok sabha seat.
Akhilesh Yadav had said that he would not take the BJP’s vaccine and when his government comes to power, everyone would be vaccinated for free.
It has been learnt that in a legal document submitted to the High Court in London in February for a group action brought by 51 claimants, AstraZeneca admitted that the vaccine developed with the University of Oxford to protect against COVID-19 may cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) in “very rare cases”.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Varanasi, UP Congress chief Rai said that Prime Minister Modi not only promoted Covishield during the pandemic, but he and his party leaders also asked for votes in the name of Covid vaccine in the elections.
“Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had not opposed the vaccine, but raised the issue of its testing. He was defamed. Today the truth is out… people have not forgotten the troubles they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
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