4 COMPANIES MUMBAI | WEDNESDAY, 20 JANUARY 2021 > ‘Glitches are minor, new system to work like RAC’ Many states have raised concerns over technology glitches in the vaccination delivery platform Co-WIN. R S SHARMA, who chairs the empowered committee on technology for Covid vaccine, spoke to Nivedita Mookerji on what went wrong with Co-Win during the first few days, the scale-up exercise, plans for a flexible system, vaccine hesitancy, and more. Edited excerpts:

How has it been going for you as tion asymmetry. That’s the broad objec- chairman of the technology platform tive and we will ensure that. Certain (Co-WIN) for Covid vaccine? things are non-negotiable. For instance, I entered the system (in the newly real time recording of the vaccination appointed panel for Co-WIN) on event is very important because that’s the January 9. I have reviewed the system and only way we can follow up with people found small software glitches, which we later on. Also, people should authenticate are removing. But we have to scale up the themselves so that there’s no room for software to cover up to 1.3 billion — which proxy. So , we are focusing on a robust is one-sixth of humanity. Nobody has authentication of system, recording of real done this kind of a thing on the planet. time events and immediate issuance of certificate. What really went wrong in the first three days with Co-WIN that many states had There’s very little information on the to go manual with the vaccine tracking technology backend of Co-Win. Who and delivery process? owns it and who operates it? Are there They were minor glitches; I will give you any IT companies managing it? an example. Ultimately, the vaccines are We are doing it and the strategic owner- limited… You have, for instance, invited ship is with the government of India. some 100 people for vaccination at a cen- I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING A Software developers may be there but the tre and perhaps only 20 turned up. For a PLATFORM AND BACKBONE TO overall ownership is with the government. variety of reasons, many didn’t turn up. The system was designed in such a ENSURE VACCINATION’S TRACEABLE, Who in the government manages it? Is it manner that if 100 were invited, they TRANSPARENT, CITIZEN-FRIENDLY, NIC (National Informatics Centre)? would all come and get vaccinated, and I have created a group now with people there would be another list the next day, AND THAT THERE’S NO from NIC and other government depart- and so on. When that didn’t happen, INFORMATION ASYMMETRY. ments who will take ownership of Co-Win. JYOTHY LABS LIMITED glitches occurred. R S SHARMA (Formerly known as Jyothy Laboratories Limited) Now we have to make the system flex- You are also a member of the National CIN: L24240MH1992PLC128651 Chairman, empowered committee on ible to accommodate people who have Expert Group on Vaccine Regd. Office: ‘Ujala House’, Ram Krishna Mandir Road, Kondivita, technology for Covid vaccine registered for today, tomorrow, and the Administration of Covid-19. What’s your Andheri (E), Mumbai – 400 059. day after… The new system will be like assessment of the vaccine hesitancy Laurus Labs Limited Tel: 022-66892800; Fax: 022-66892805; RAC (reservation against cancellation authenticating the process, digital certifi- mood in India? CIN: L24239AP2005PLC047518 Email Id: [email protected]; Website: www.jyothylabs.com used widely in the railways) and people cates—provisional or final--will be given There’s a lot of fake news on risks and Registered Office: Plot No.21, Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City, Notice on the wait list will be accommodated for once vaccination is done. adverse effects of vaccination. That has Parawada, Visakhapatnam – 531021, Andhra Pradesh Pursuant to Regulation 29 read with Regulation 47 and other relevant Corporate Office: 2nd Floor, Serene Chambers, Road No.7, vaccination when the scheduled benefi- created some fear in the minds of people. Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500 034, Telangana Regulations of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure ciaries don’t turn up. We didn’t have that What else needs to be done? I think that’s completely baseless. The ini- Phone: +91 40 3980 4333; Fax: +91 40 3980 4320 Requirements) Regulations, 2015, NOTICE is hereby given that a flexibility for the first few days. We plan to eliminate any information tial anxiety will go away and people will Email: [email protected]; Website: www.lauruslabs.com meeting of the Board of Directors of Jyothy Labs Limited (Formerly known as Jyothy Laboratories Limited) is scheduled to be held through asymmetry. Registration can be done go for vaccination with confidence I’m NOTICE video conferencing on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, inter-alia, to So, how do you go about making the through multiple channels including sure. That’s my sense. Of course it’s a sub- NOTICE is hereby given, pursuant to Regulation 29 and 47 of SEBI consider and approve the Unaudited Financial Results of the Company system robust? Aarogya Setu app, mobile phone, helpline jective thing. (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, that a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will be held on Standalone and Consolidated basis for the quarter and nine months We have to do it in a way that’s citizen- or on the web. Right now, we are dealing on Thursday, January 28, 2021, inter-alia, ended December 31, 2020, with limited review thereon by the Statutory centric. That is, from vaccinating only with a captive audience—health and Is the government doing anything to - to consider and approve the Un-Audited Financial Results of the Auditors of the Company. health workers, we have to roll it out for frontline workers. That system is scaling build citizen trust in vaccine? Company for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2020; nd The aforesaid intimation can also be accessed on the website of the much larger numbers in future. There’s up and adding new components like real The government is telling the truth while - to consider the proposal for payment of 2 Interim Dividend for FY 2020-21and fixation of record date for determining the eligibility Company i.e. www.jyothylabs.com and on the website of the Stock no doubt that this is the largest pro- time dashboard and information system. some people are doing campaigns against of shareholders (if approved). Exchanges i.e. www.bseindia.com and www.nseindia.com. gramme in the world. Through Co-Win, vaccines saying they are not safe, etc. Further the Notice is also available on the website of the Company at For Jyothy Labs Limited we are designing a system which is scala- What is the broad objective of the panel www.lauruslabs.com By Order of the Board (Formerly known as Jyothy Laboratories Limited) ble and which is citizen-friendly. Self-reg- that you are chairing? What about the Covaxin versus For Laurus Labs Limited Sd/- istration will be introduced so that people I’m responsible for making a robust tech- Covishield debate that is going on? Place: Hyderabad Sd/- G. Venkateswar Reddy Place: Mumbai Shreyas Trivedi Date : January 19, 2021 Date : January 19, 2021 can mention when and at which place nology platform and backbone to ensure This is beyond my domain (laughs). As Company Secretary Head - Legal & Company Secretary they want to be vaccinated closer home. vaccination is transparent, traceable, cit- doctors have already said, both are While Aadhar infrastructure will help in izen-friendly and that there’s no informa- absolutely safe. Govt advises health care Nasal vaccine: Bharat Bio workers to told to submit efficacy data take the jab India may start nasal vaccine. The SEC has major role in halting the trans- already recommended mission of the novel coron- RUCHIKA CHITRAVANSHI vaccine exports restricted emergency-use avirus and lead to global erad- New Delhi, 19 January approval for the intra-muscu- ication of the disease. as soon as today lar vaccine developed by Jacob John, former head With more than 630,000 vac- Bharat Biotech — Covaxin. (Centre for Advanced cinated within the first four SOHINI DAS & “The SEC has sought more Research in Virology), ICMR, days of the drive in India — RUCHIKA CHITRAVANSHI data from the firm, especially had told Business Standard the fastest in the world in 19 January showing efficacy,” said a recently that while intra-mus- doing so — the government source. The country also plans cular vaccines could potential- strongly urged health care The expert panel of the to export Bharat Biotech’s vac- ly prevent the transmission of workers to shed hesitancy Central Drugs Standard cine at a later stage. a disease that spreads through and come forward to take the Control Organisation (CDSCO) Meanwhile, in the health the respiratory tract (such as jab in order to create a Covid- has asked Bharat Biotech to ministry press briefing, V K the smallpox vaccine), proof health care system and submit the efficacy data from Paul, member-health, NITI chances were higher in case of achieve vaccine-induced Phase-3 trials, before it Aayog, said a nasal vaccine a nasal vaccine. herd immunity. approves the application to candidate has been identified Meanwhile, India — one of “The whole world is conduct Phase-1 trial for its and will be considered by the the world’s biggest drugmak- clamouring for a vaccine. If nasal vaccine, said sources. regulator for Phase 1 and 2 tri- ers — will start exports of we still decline, it would be Bharat Biotech had recent- als. He said this route could be Covid-19 vaccines as early as a matter of sadness... I will ly sought the Drugs Controller used to deliver safe antigen Wednesday, government urge them (health care General of India’s approval to that will generate an immuno- sources said, paving the way workers) to endorse the vac- conduct Phase 1 clinical trials logical response. for many mid- and lower- cine. We have to start non- of its nasal vaccine. For any Balram Bhargava, director, income countries to secure Covid services; those who clinical trial and vaccine Indian Council of Medical supplies of the easy-to-store are fortunate to receive the approval, the CDSCO refers to Research (ICMR), said, “In the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. vaccine should not refuse the subject expert committee past, such vaccines have been The first batch of exports it,” said V K Paul, member (SEC) for recommendations. used for measles. This is a will be shipped to Bhutan, said (health), NITI Aayog. The SEC met on Tuesday route being explored now and officials. Paul, who has himself to discuss the proposal from we are looking forward to it.” Sri Lanka, Nepal, taken a shot of Bharat the vaccine maker. A source Bharat Biotech is bullish on Myanmar, and the Maldives Biotech's Covaxin, had added that the panel has its upcoming nasal vaccine, have all made requests for ear- assured people of safety. He sought more data from the which is under trials in the US. ly delivery of vaccines. said India has finally got a firm before it gives approval to Experts say the nasal vaccine, breather from Covid, and conduct clinical trials of its if successful, could play a Additional inputs from PTI that this is the time to vacci- nate as many as possible. So far, says the health ministry, ‘adverse events fol- lowing immunisation’ Indemnity clause: Serum (AEFI) make up 0.18 per cent of the total vaccinations, and only 0.002 per cent cas- knocks on govt door again es have ended in hospitali- sation. SOHINI DAS the company. The entire government pro- “Concerns about adverse Mumbai, 19 January gramme, too, stops. Some very high-level con- events following immunisa- stitutional powers would have to be invoked to tion are unfounded and Amid adverse events following vaccination overrule such a situation. This has never been insignificant. We are in a sit- coming from across the country, Pune-based tested in our history,” he had said. uation of a lot of comfort. vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII) Legal experts say the government is unlikely These two vaccines are safe. again raised the issue of indemnity in a meeting to indemnify vaccine makers. The expert panel There is no undue reacto- with the health ministry this week, said some- of the Central Drugs Standard Control genicity,” said Rajesh one close to the development. Organisation (CDSCO) will review Bhushan, health secretary. SII did not wish to comment on the adverse events and the reports According to provisional the matter. While there are reports Only in case of (analyses) submitted by vaccine numbers, a total of 177,368 of adverse events, no causal link to any causal link makers. Only in case of any causal beneficiaries were vaccinat- the vaccine has been established. SII between any link established between any ed on Tuesday, across 3,800 Chief Executive Officer Adar adverse event adverse event and the vaccine would sessions. A total of nine cas- Poonawalla earlier indicated legal and vaccine the CDSCO take up the issue. es of AEFI required hospi- indemnity was required to ensure will the CDSCO The vaccines of SII and Bharat talisation, a health ministry that the vaccination drive could be take it up Biotech have been approved under statement said. completed smoothly. the New Drugs and Clinical Trial The government is urg- In an interview with Business Rules, 2019, which come under the ing states with less than 40 Standard, Poonawalla, who is also president of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. In this Act, per cent of the targeted cov- the Indian Vaccine Manufacturers Association, there is provision for compensation in the case erage to take steps to ramp had said an indemnity clause during the period of any adverse event in a trial. up the number of sessions, of the pandemic would ensure the vaccination SII’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s such as Punjab, Puducherry, drive did not halt if there was an injunction. Covaxin are being given to health care workers and Tamil Nadu. “If there is an injunction and the court says now. Both the firms have listed on their web- Goa, HP, and UP hold that no more vaccines will be given to anyone sites adverse effects that can happen after vac- vaccination sessions only pending further enquiry, many lives would be cination and who should avoid taking two days a week. impacted. It is not about the financial loss to the vaccine.