PHM-Exch> (no subject)

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Sarojini N. <sarojinipr at gmail.com>

As we are aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only created unprecedented
public health and economic crisis, but has also put science under
tremendous pressure to develop and deliver remedies in an unrealistic time
frame. Such exceptional haste is placing huge demands on the scientific
community to forego ethics, rigour and caution.



In the last few months, several inadequately and unscientifically tested
anti-viral therapeutic drugs, and a large number of non-allopathic drugs
for boosting immunity to prevent infection, have been given emergency
approval for use. This has signalled  the lowering of standards of research
evidence and approval of therapeutic and preventive remedies for the
COVID-19. Meanwhile, the pressure to find vaccine(s) in the earliest
possible time is mounting day by day.



The announcement of the “Operation Warp Speed” for developing vaccines has
triggered frantic efforts in India for collaborating with the
multi-national companies as junior partners to produce vaccines that are
yet to have evidence, and at the same time take a plunge, with massive
government support, in the race to speed-test the Indian candidate
vaccines. Panicky responses in desperate times have only led to havoc and
harmed people. The current desperation demands an efficient but measured
response that combines compassion with science. The speed created by the
warping of scientific and ethics steps (but without missing any) ought not
be converted into the blind pursuit of speed that cuts corners of science
and ethics.



As concerned public health, ethics, medical and legal practitioners, we
feel this current situation requires urgent reflection in order to bring
the focus back on science and ethics in the development of Vaccines. We
strongly believe that an extensive public engagement would help people to
avoid misconceptions about research or harbouring wrong expectations. We
also underscore the need for transparency and respect for equity and
justice in conducting trials, giving approvals, authentic information about
production and distribution of the vaccines, and preparedness of the health
sector.



Taking forward the concerns, we are initiating a series of *Five Webinars* to
reflect on the science and ethics in developing and accessing vaccines for
COVID-19, in which we would like to invite representatives of civil society
organisations, media, scientists, academia, public health practitioners,
legal activists, researchers, clinical trial participants, ethics committee
members, policy makers, etc., to participate.


Please find attached the schedule of the Webinar series from *7th Nov. to
21st Nov. 2020* with topics, dates and timings. The *first Webinar* is on
the *7th of November* on the theme of *"SCIENTIFIC AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN
COVID VACCINE TRIALS*" . The *link for **register**ing* for this 1st Webinar
:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpfuCtrzIoGNyAIT0uL0LxVtbSrSx-aP7F
<https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpfuCtrzIoGNyAIT0uL0LxVtbSrSx-aP7F>



We look forward to your participation in the Webinars and request you to
share the announcement in your networks. We hope the presentations and the
dialogue during the Webinars will reflect the true spirit of public health
and would be of high scientific quality, that will move towards building a
clear perspective as well as a consensus on this issue.


*Sarojini N, **Amar Jesani, Yogesh Jain, Veena Johari and Chinu Srinivasan*

The Organising Team of Initiative on Scientific and Ethical Concerns in the
COVID-19 Vaccine Research & Access

For al needed Details on the program Contact:
Sarojini Nadimpally:sarojinipr at gmail.com;

Amar Jesani: amar.jesani at gmail.com



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