A little less than an hour ago, NDTV reported that the Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech's proposals for "emergency vaccine use" were not cleared today over "inadequate safety and efficacy data". The story cited "sources" and said the two had been asked to provide more data.
The decision was taken at a special meeting of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, NDTV said.
The news was gradually reported by other media houses as well, all of whom cited "sources". This included News18 and India Today.
#BREAKING | Sources say Emergency Use Authorization not granted to Bharat Biotech & Serum Institute of India. SEC seeks more data from Serum Institute & Bharat Biotech. Both to come back again to SEC with more data, trials information & documents#COVID19 #CovidVaccine pic.twitter.com/F2TjmRk6E4
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) December 9, 2020
Sources tell my colleague @tweettokarishma that Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech vaccine candidates have not been approved today for want of more data on efficacy and safety. They have been asked for more data. Pfizer didn't come up for consideration today.
— Chandra R. Srikanth (@chandrarsrikant) December 9, 2020
Soon after, however, the fact-check wing of the government's Press Information Bureau said NDTV's claim was "fake".
Claim: NDTV has reported that the emergency use of the vaccine by Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech has been rejected#PIBFactCheck: This claim is #Fake. pic.twitter.com/zmUgqF2Nkt
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) December 9, 2020
This was swiftly followed by the health ministry.
The media report about the rejection of Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech's emergency use authorisation of vaccine is fake: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/vysHrU43hi
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2020
#FAKENEWS
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) December 9, 2020
This news being run by @ndtvindia is also #FAKENEWS. pic.twitter.com/6UwvVo22Tp
NDTV's story has not been taken down or modified.
This is a developing story.
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