New Delhi, Aug. 3 -- All US-based Covid-19 vaccine makers are insisting on protection from lawsuits and liability and India is reluctant to allow their entry on these conditions, delaying their availability in India, according to NK Arora, head of the government's vaccine panel.

According to an NDTV report, Arora said the government would have considered their stance on indemnity if the pharma companies were willing to provide a larger amount of vaccines -- like 100 or 200 million doses.

Pfizer has offered 70 million doses -- a tiny fraction of the 135 crore doses India needs by December, while Moderna has expressed commitment for only 7.5 million doses "which will be insufficient even for Saket (in south Delhi)", he told NDTV.

It was ...