Coronavirus vaccination process is expected to be kickstarted in India in January. Ahead of the rollout, Serum Institute of India's chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla has said that the government must protect vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits by vaccine-takers who might suffer adverse or serious reactions. SII is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer.

Poonawalla opined that the government needs to indemnify vaccine manufacturers against all lawsuits. He pointed out the example of the US, where vaccine manufacturers are protected from "frivolous claims" during a pandemic.

It may be noted that SII was recently in the news when a participant in the clinical trial of its Oxford vaccine slapped a legal notice seeking compensation of Rs 5 Cr after he allegedly developed severe neurological side-effects. SII described the lawsuit as malicious and misconceived. It also said that it will seek Rs 100 Cr as compensation from the individual.

Earlier this month, Poonawalla thanked the Government of India regarding its vaccine candidate, Covishield. "As promised, before the end of 2020, @SerumInstIndia has applied for emergency use authorization for the first made-in-India vaccine, COVISHIELD. This will save countless lives, and I thank the Government of India and Sri @narendramodi ji for their invaluable support," he tweeted.