ICMR claim to launch COVID-19 vaccine by Aug 15 unscientific gaffe: Sibal

Congress leader Kapil Sibal called the Indian Council of Medical Research's claim to launch COVID-19 vaccine by August 15, an "unscientific gaffe".

Taking to Twitter, Sibal wrote, "Unscientific gaffes: ICMR claim: COVID 19 vaccine by August 15, Mahabharat over in 18 days; wait 21 days and this war will be won chants of: Carona go, Caron go... Cow dung cures cancer, Ganesh's head: miracle of surgery, Such mindsets can never provide solutions."

The comments of the Congress leader came after ICMR DG Balram Bhargava's letter to Bharat Biotech and principal investigators of medical colleges to complete the trial procedure of indigenous COVID-19 vaccine in a fast track method so that results of a clinical trial can be launched by August 15.

Bharat Biotech had recently received a nod for a clinical trial of its vaccine -- Covaxin.

A total of 12 institutes have been asked by the ICMR to fast track clinical trials of the vaccine as it is being considered the topmost priority projects which are being monitored by the government.