Pride for CSIR that Prime Minister received vaccine with its adjuvant in it: CSIR DG

CSIR-NISTADS and CSIR-NISCAIR recently organized a half day policy Dialogue on Covid-19 Vaccine on March 1, 2021. Director Dr. Ranjana Aggarwal, welcomed the gathering with her enlightening opening remarks. She pointed out that CSIR-NISCAIR and CSIR-NISTADS are actively engaged in the dissemination of vital information, popular science articles, and publications related to the Covid-19 pandemic. CSIR-NISTADS has been engaged in research on vaccine STS policy issues for more than 25 years. India has played a mitigation role in combating Covid-19 pandemic through its policy framework, improved S& T health infrastructure and international cooperation.

Echoing similar feelings, Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, Director General-Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, emphasized the importance of research to harness Global leadership in the arena of Self-reliance India and Covid‒19 vaccines. Dr. Mande drew the attention of the meeting, saying, “This it is a proud moment for India after the juggling of one year, now the time has come for vaccine development for the disease. This has become possible with the support and collaboration from various scientific departments including CSIR, ICMR, DST, DBT and the team spirit of experts/advisors/ officials from PSA & PMO, industry (Domestic vaccine companies, BIRAC, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), NITI Aayog, Public health Organizations (AIIMS, Hospitals, Healthcare Centres) etc, for bringing out such successful indigenous vaccines. He added “Today, Prime Minister himself took the first Zab”.

DG CSIR also shared the outstanding achievements in the field of science and technology that has emerged as a boon in the tough time of pandemic and highlighted that CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad has prepared the adjuvant for the Bharat Biotech vaccine COVAXIN. We are proud that the vaccine received by the Prime Minister had CSIR adjuvant in it, he said.

Taking the session forward, Dr. Anurag Agarwal, Director, CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi, informed the gathering about how their institution is continuously working in the area of Covid‒19 and conducting Sero-surveys constantly to know the status of herd immunity among the population. He said “We have the ability to make vaccines; a pandemic will end only when people get immunized”

Dr Shailja Gupta, Senior Advisor from PSA office expressed that the Indians are most willing to get vaccines higher than the other developed countries. She added that the trust stems from systems and the Government. She said “Prime Minister himself got vaccinated at AIIMS today and it builds trust”. She highlighted the need for data transparency and access to data in the public domain. She expressed that the Industry is doing terrific job.

Dr. Shirshendu Mukherjee, Mission director, BIRAC, New Delhi, stressed on the fact that BIRAC worked internationally very closely on vaccine development. The catalytic nature which the Indian government has promoted has helped an enabling ecosystem for vaccine development and innovation. BIRAC played an important role not only in vaccine development but also in the development of creating enabling infrastructure, ventilators, diagnostic kits etc.

Dr. SK Varshney, Advisor & Head, International Cooperation, Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi emphasized that India is a global hub of generating medicines, and 60% of vaccines are made in India. He said that presently Covishield and Covaxin are available and seven more vaccines are in the pipeline. He highlighted that the vaccines made in India can be easily stored at regular storage, and a group was set up to maintain Refrigeration condition for vaccine administration; India is targeting least developing countries in its covid-19 vaccine diplomacy by setting up a national group for export clearance and ensuring Covid-19 vaccine supply. He said ‘We supplied 6 million vaccines supplying to global community referred to as ‘vaccine maitri’

Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Head of Science Communication and Dissemination Division, CSIR, New Delhi, talked about the importance of science communication and public health awareness in the pandemic era. She emphasized the need of a hour for a larger role of scientific community for spreading authentic information. She also highlighted the importance of giving right/reliable message during pandemic is quite challenging as there is a spread of lot of fake news in social media.

Dr Y Madhavi, Sr. Principal Scientist CSIR-NISTADS New Delhi moderated the discussion and summed up the concluding session. Dr. NK Prasanna, Scientist and Editor, Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics, CSIR-NISCAIR, Dr Paramanand Barman Scientist CSIR-NISCAIR, Dr Avinish Kshitz played an important role for the successful conductance of this half day policy dialogue event. Dr. Madhavi and Dr. Prasanna drafted this press note.