India has been offered 7.5 million doses of Moderna’s
COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX, the global vaccine sharing programme
spearheaded by CEPI, Gavi and WHO alongside UNICEF.

However, it is still not clear when the jabs will arrive
in the country as a consensus on the indemnity clause is yet to be reached, PTI
quoted sources as saying.

India’s drug regulator granted emergency use authorisation to Moderna’s
COVID-19 vaccine last month.

Recently, NITI Aayog member VK Paul said that the Indian government
said that it is working actively with vaccine manufacturer Moderna to see how
its vaccine can be imported and made available in the country.  

“…to and fro (talks) are going on over the contractual
specifics. Discussions have not yet concluded. We are making efforts as to it
happens at the earliest. We are now expecting to hear from them anytime. Currently,
they have to respond to some of the points we have made and we will take it
forward,” he said on Friday.

One of the issues delaying the arrival of Moderna’s
vaccines in India is the lack of consensus on the indemnity clause. Sources
told PTI that talks are on and a consensus on the indemnity issue is yet to be
reached.

An indemnity clause would grant the vaccine makers
protection against legal proceedings in case the use of the vaccine leads to
any adverse effects.

The demand for indemnity has delayed the arrival of both
Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines in India.

In December last year, a federal court in the US granted both
Pfizer and Moderna immunity from any such legal liabilities that may arise in
the future.

Sources
say that the Indian government has put forth certain conditions for finalising
the indemnity clause contract and has sent it to the US-based drug manufacturer
for their perusal.