With a death due to Covid vaccination, a petitioner files a case against Serum Institute and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Vaccine Saga
After the pre-pandemic era, the vaccination phase took over its pace. Due to the creation of awareness among the masses, people rushed toward the COWIN application to get their shot.
The vaccine development marked Serum Institute as the world’s largest vaccine maker. Apart from SII, Hyderabad–based firm Bharat Biotech also positioned its image by making the first vaccine developed in India, the Covaxin.
India first approved the CovidShield under the license by Serum Institute, and then local companies like Bharat Biotech developed Covaxin. According to some scientific reports and assumptions, a delay in the vaccination approval would cost around 4 million additional lives.
First, the 40-60 year batch, then 20-40 and finally, the kids above the 5-year mark got the shot eligibility. As not only a certificate requirement but as a trend, the vaccine slot required a-week-before appointment.
Currently, the vaccination programme done by the government is said to be healthy, as almost 95% of the mass are vaccinated.
Prominent Firms Involved in the Lawsuit
SII Pune
Founded by the Business Tycoon Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966, Serum Institute of India is a biotechnology firm based in Pune. In its starting days, the firm focused on producing immunobiological, which were costly in India due to importation.
In 2009, during the Swine flu pandemic, the company collaborated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School and invented a fast-acting anti-rabies agent known as Rabishield. Apart from Rabies, influenza vaccines, combination vaccines and meningococcal vaccines were also by the Serum Institute.
As time went by, the company started collaborating with organisations like WHO and UNICEF in their vaccine drives. During the COVID vaccination programme, the company set several promises fulfilled, making it the world’s largest vaccine producer.
Ranked 1st and often compared with Bharat Biotech, the company is said to be the first to introduce the covid vaccines on a large scale.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, also known as BMGF, is a private foundation founded by the tech tycoon Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates. The foundation is currently headquartered in Washington and is known to be the second largest charitable foundation in the world.
The Key Individuals currently present in the foundation include Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, Warren Buffett and Michael Larson. The charitable foundation has more than $50 billion in assets, making it the leader in venture philanthropy.
The charity has a vast cover over social, health and education issues. During COVID-19, the organisation set several examples of hefty funding, providing COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerators.
Further, during vaccine distribution, it collaborated with several vaccine-producing companies like SII for its effective distribution throughout countries like India, South Africa and many more.
All About the Vaccine Lawsuit
A dental doctor and a Senior lecturer at SMBT dental college, Snehal Lunawat, is said to be the victim of this case.
According to the petitioner, the dental doctor had the first dose on January 28, 2021. After application, she started facing several complications like headaches and vomits. Due to her health deterioration, she got admitted to a hospital.
There she was diagnosed with brain cancer, after which she lost her life on March 1.
In the Petition filled by her father, the vaccine and its producers are the main culprits of the death. The father has asked for a response and 1000 crore compensation from the Gates Foundation and SII Pune. Apart from that, the document also stated how the government advertised the benefits of the vaccines.
Both the companies were involved as the Gates Foundation partnered with Serum Institue Pune, promising delivery of 100 million doses.
Currently, the Bombay HC is awaiting a response from the organisations to proceed further on this case.
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