Close the jab gap: Mumbai activists target Pfizer for high price of Covid-19 vaccines

Put people over profits, say these banners

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer came under fire from a band of activists on Wednesday in Mumbai. The group held a demonstration against the high price of COVID-19 vaccines from the company. The activists are part of an initiative called VOW (Vaccinate Our World) and as the self-explanatory acronym says, are pushing for a fully vaccinated world, "as that is our only defence against the pandemic currently," said Manvendra Gohil.

Gohil, the prince of Rajpipla in Gujarat, is in Mumbai, and was part of the group holding placards and banners below the Pfizer office at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Said Gohil, "It was a peaceful though powerful demonstration." Pfizer did not respond to calls seeking comment on the same.

Parity, equity

Gohil claimed that the Pfizer vaccine was being given at approximately USD 20 (Rs 1,500) and that means, "profit margins are too high." Asked about the motive for calling out Pfizer pricing since Indians do not have access to it, Gohil, who is also ambassador of the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) India said, "This is not about who has access to which vaccine. It is a shout out to pharma companies to reduce their profit margins, so that the COVID-19 vaccine is cheaper and subsequently, more accessible across the spectrum. They can make some profit but profiteering from a dire situation to this extent is certainly uncalled for."

Manvendra Gohil with a VOW banner at Bandra Kurla Complex

Gohil said that the VOW organization called for parity in Coronavirus vaccinations. "This can happen if patents on vaccines are removed by companies and the formula is shared. Then, more companies will be able to produce vaccines, there will be greater number of shots available overall, prices can come down and it becomes a much more level playing field," finished the prince, a familiar presence at Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) events in the city.

Indian Medical Association (IMA) president J Jayalal, who met the VOW campaigners earlier this month said, "We would like Pfizer to not insist that the government should indemnify it against legal suits in case of adverse effects linked to the jab. This is one obstacle for it entering India. It would be good to see one universal price for the vaccines in the Indian system. There are differences in prices of supply to vaccines in the government and private sectors which should not be the case. We should have a uniform rate."

The summit

Dr V Sam Prasad, Country Programme Director AHF India, said, "Nobody is safe until everybody is vaccinated. Vaccines that cost under USD 2 to make are being sold close to USD 20. These vaccines should not be for profiteering. Companies can cover their costs, have slim profit margins, if need be, but not in a very effective manner." He claimed that with high pricing, "we will see some people not get the COVID-19 dose for years. We must also remember that public money (taxes) has also gone into funding the development of these vaccines."

The doctor said VOW will be looking at the G20 summit to be held in Rome (Italy) this October where, "India and other countries must make a strong pitch for no patents for vaccines, which will lead to sharing and much wider vaccine making and distribution." The G20 Leaders' Summit will focus on the response to the pandemic and on global equity and access to vaccines.