SII files defamation suit against volunteer claiming side effects after vaccine trial

The Pune-based Serum Institute of India ( SII) has filed a 100- crore defamation suit against a Chennai based volunteer who took part in the coronavirus vaccine ‘Covishield’ trial.

The 40-year-old Covishield vaccine trial participant had claimed to suffer from neurological and psychological issues after taking the vaccine dose. He sought Rs 5 crore as compensation from SII.

SII denied the participant’s allegations and is planning to seek an amount of Rs 100 crore for spreading malicious and misconceived allegations.

SII also said while it sympathises with the volunteer’s medical condition, there is absolutely no correlation with the vaccine trial and his medical condition.

ICMR also confirmed that preliminary assessment has not indicated any causal link between the alleged adverse effects shown by the volunteer and the ‘Covishield’ vaccine.

“The allegations in the notice are malicious and misconceived. While the Serum Institute of India is sympathetic to the volunteer’s medical condition, there is absolutely no correlation with the vaccine trial and the medical condition of the volunteer. The volunteer is falsely laying the blame for his medical problems on the Covid vaccine trial,” Serum Institute of India said in a statement.

A criminal case has also been filed against the volunteer and he is likely to receive the notice by Monday.

‘Covishield’ vaccine is developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca in collaboration with Serum Institute of India.