During the COVID-19 crisis, when India was fighting to develop and roll out its own vaccines, several prominent political figures, journalists and public personalities were pushing for Pfizer’s vaccine while questioning India’s indigenous vaccine programme.
Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Chetan Bhagat, Shekhar Gupta, Sagarika Ghosh and Barkha Dutt were among the prominent names associated with that debate.
The statements they made and the positions they took during the crisis are worth revisiting today.
Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was among the prominent political figures who pushed for greater access to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic. He pressured the government to open the Indian market to foreign vaccines.
It seemed like he was acting at the behest of interests in the United States.
Arvind Kejriwal
Then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal openly called for the quick procurement of Pfizer’s vaccine for children.
On 27 May 2021, Kejriwal shared an NDTV report stating that Pfizer had a vaccine ready for children aged 12 and above and was seeking fast-track approval.
“We shud procure this vaccine asap for our children,” Kejriwal wrote.
The statement came during India’s second COVID wave, when the government was facing intense pressure over vaccine availability and the approval of foreign vaccines.
Manish Sisodia
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was also among those criticised for his position on foreign vaccines during the pandemic.
One wonders whether his overseas engagements had any connection to Pfizer.
The New York Times
The New York Times also was called out for its coverage of India’s COVID-19 vaccine policy.
The publication portrayed Pfizer favourably while highlighting alleged shortcomings in India’s vaccine programme.
Chetan Bhagat
Author Chetan Bhagat was another prominent public figure who commented on India’s vaccine policy and foreign vaccines during the pandemic.
His statements seemed to be a part of the broader public campaign for greater access to Pfizer in India.
Shekhar Gupta
Journalist Shekhar Gupta and ThePrint also followed their peers’ direction in their coverage of India’s COVID-19 vaccine policy.
The publication ran a coverage favourable to Pfizer and critical of India’s approach to vaccine approvals and indigenous vaccines.
Rohini Singh, Sagarika Ghosh And Barkha Dutt
Journalists Rohini Singh, Sagarika Ghosh and Barkha Dutt were also prominent voices during the COVID-19 debate and contributed actively to a narrative that favoured foreign vaccines.
The Question That Remains
This was the backdrop in 2021: Pfizer was being pushed, while Covaxin was being questioned.
Pfizer eventually did not enter the Indian market during the crisis after it withdrew its application when India required a local safety study.
That history is worth remembering today, not because every person who supported Pfizer was necessarily acting on the company’s behalf, but because the positions taken during a national crisis should be judged against the facts that were known at the time.
This article is based on an X thread by Shivam.
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