‘Anti-National’ Tag For Those Questioning Govt Over Covaxin Nod

Those criticising the Modi govt on Covaxin approval were called “anti-nationals” on social media.

Those critiquing the Narendra Modi government on the inadequate information provided on COVID vaccine approval were met with the tag of ‘anti-national’ on social media.

Criticising the Opposition’s questions on Drugs Controller General of India’s (DCGI) approval for emergency use of Bharat Biotech-manufactured ‘Covaxin’ without proper completion of trials, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday, 3 January said, “ Anti-national comments & cynicism of the Opposition notwithstanding, @WHO has welcomed the Indian approval of both #COVISHIELD & #COVAXIN!”

Kudos to Hon’ble PM Sh @narendramodi ji for re-establishing India as the vaccine capital of the world !
Anti-national comments & cynicism of the Opposition notwithstanding, @WHO has welcomed the Indian approval of both #COVISHIELD & #COVAXIN !
Roll up your sleeves everyone ! pic.twitter.com/UqLPgWrwDi

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 3, 2021

With political leaders like Akhilesh Yadav calling Covaxin as “BJP’s vaccine” and Vardhan tagging questions about approvals as “anti-national”, a debate over nationalism ensued on Twitter.

Bharat Biotech is India’s first indigenous vaccine for coronavirus. The inactivated virus vaccine is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).

This comes a day after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has said that he will not get vaccinated for COVID-19 now as the "BJP's vaccine" could not be trusted.

While some credited PM Narendra Modi for getting a vaccine against the pandemic so quickly in India, medical experts raised doubts on the trial process of the India-made vaccine.

Approved Covaxin vaccine has efficacy, it’s safe, readily available, it’s affordable and easily transportable. Thank you @narendramodi for encouraging scientists to make this possible. Please do not circulate unsubstantiated rumours about vaccine on social media.

— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) January 3, 2021

A step towards becoming a COVID-free nation. A BIG DAY for all of us as COVID-19 vaccines #Covishield & #Covaxin developed by @SerumInstIndia & @BharatBiotech received approval from DCGI’s expert panel. This wasn’t possible without @NarendraModi ji’s brilliant leadership.

— Emaad Makhdoomi (@MakhdoomiEmaad) January 3, 2021

Others questioned political motives behind criticising the trial process of the vaccine.

Former Congress leader Sanjay Jha defended the Modi government and wrote, “Mr Modi’s government is not crazy to endanger lives of its own people through rash experimentation.”

I find the campaign against Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin quite ridiculous. Mr Modi’s government is not crazy to endanger lives of its own people through rash experimentation.

Can we please trust our bureaucracy, doctors, scientists, R&D, more please if not our politicians?

— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) January 3, 2021

To further their own failed politics and nefarious agendas, Congress and other Opposition leaders are trying to cause panic in the minds of the people. I urge them to do politics on other issues, they should avoid playing with people’s precious lives and hard earned livelihoods.

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 3, 2021

Some felt politics or opposition to using COVID-vaccine could delay the process of India becoming coronavirus-free.

As #India was getting closer to getting rid of #polio, certain elements launched a mass campaign to spread false rumours in the Muslim community about the #vaccine. It became such a huge problem that large numbers refused the vaccine point blank!

— Rishi Suri (@rishi_suri) January 3, 2021

Hope someone is keeping a list of India’s hall of (in)fame of anti-vaxers . They should be refused medical treatment if, god forbid, they do get Covid. Hospital admins please note.

— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) January 3, 2021

Defending the criticism, some people wrote on Twitter that it was important to ask for accountability when it comes to something as crucial as a cure for a pandemic.

Oxford Zeneca Published Peer reviewed Efficacy results of Phase 1, 2 and 3 trials of their Vaccine in Lancet. No one questioned their approval. Bharat Biotech hasn’t even started Phase 3 Trial, no Peer Review of Phase 1 & 2. So people questioning the approval is not Politics

— Joy (@Joydas) January 3, 2021

A vaccine which hasn't done recommended clinical trials but has yet been approved by the govt is now a test of nationalism in India. Science is being slaughtered at the altar of Jingoism.

— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) January 3, 2021

Politics isn’t when you question the efficacy of Bharat Biotech vaccine which hasn’t published peer reviewed efficacy results of it’s vaccine’s phase II trial & has been slammed by experts for misleading advisory on trials. Politics is when you tell others not to question.

— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) January 3, 2021

Questioning the efficacy of a vaccine doesn’t make one anti-national. But yes questioning only for the sake of questioning does make one look stupid. It’s a fairly easy choice between being smart and being stupid. Has HE returned from Milan?

— SUHEL SETH (@Suhelseth) January 3, 2021

The Subject Expert Committee of Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation had recommended restricted use of Covaxin "in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, specially in the context of infection by mutant strains". Officals say that it will be used as backup in case of spike in cases.

Covaxin has to be administered in two doses and can be stored at 2-8 degree Celsius. This is a major relief for India which has the second highest number of infections in the world after the US.