On a day when the largest vaccine drive was launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress has intensified attacks against thevaccine program citing emergency approvals sans efficacy data.
Congress leader and MP from Anandpur Sahib asked if thevaccine is reliable, why no government functionary took it?
While comparing India's vaccination drive to that of USand UK, he said in every country, the head of the government has first takenthe shot. In US, President elect Joe Biden and Vice President elect KamalaHarris took the jab. In UK, Queen Elizabeth and PM Boris Johnson had taken thevaccine.
"In India, why has no responsible functionary of thegovernment taken the vaccine shots first if it is so safe and reliable,"Tewari further added.
After the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) gave approvalto Covishield and Covaxin, several experts have termed it a decision taken inhaste.
Meanwhile, the Phase 3 trials are underway for theindigenous Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech but got approval for emergencyuse. PM Modi had urged people not to fall for "propaganda" and"rumours" during the launch of vaccination drive in the morningtoday.