Indemnity from liability: Amid an acute vaccine crisis in the | UPSC PRO

Indemnity from liability:

Amid an acute vaccine crisis in the country, India is expected to grant indemnity to foreign vaccine makers including Pfizer and Moderna which would make it easier for their Covid vaccines to come to India.

•Serum Institute has become the latest pharma company to ask for indemnity from liability, stating that all vaccine manufacturers, whether Indian or foreign, should be protected against legal suits for any severe side effects.

What is indemnity clause?
indemnity means security against a loss or other financial stress.
• In legal terms, it means a contractual obligation of one party to compensate another party due to the acts of the former.

• The clause is commonly used in insurance contracts.

the case of India, if the government gives an indemnity to foreign vaccine makers to roll out their vaccine in the country, the government, and not the vaccine maker, would be liable to compensate any citizen who claims to have side effects after taking the vaccine jab.

What are ‘Bridging trials’?
‘Bridging trials’ are localised clinical trials which generate data related to the impact of foreign medicines/vaccines on the indigenous population before they are rolled out for the public. These trials are important in ascertaining the efficacy and potential side-effects related to the medicine/vaccine.

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