‘Trying to make everybody glad’: Poonawalla says as SII rolls out first consignment of over 56L vaccine doses

Image Source : INDIA TV Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla
Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) on Tuesday rolled out the primary consignment of over 56 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine for 13 cities throughout the nation, 4 days forward of an enormous pan-India inoculation drive towards COVID-19. Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the institute, mentioned numerous international locations have been within the queue to obtain provides of the vaccine and that he’s “trying to keep everyone happy”. 

“A lot of countries have been writing to India and PMO for vaccines to be supplied from the Serum Institute to their countries. We are trying to keep everyone happy. We have to take care of our population and nation as well. We’re trying to supply vaccines to Africa, South America. So we’re doing a little bit everywhere,” Poonawalla advised ANI.

“We make 70-80 million doses every month. Planning is underway to see how many will be given to India and foreign countries. Health Ministry has made logistics plans. We also have partnership with private players for trucks, vans and cold storage,” he added.

READ MORE: GoAir begins vaccine supply; Operates flight to Chennai from Pune containing 70,800 vials

Covishield is developed by Oxford University and British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and manufactured by the SII. On Monday, the federal government had positioned agency orders in superior commitments for over six crore doses of COVID vaccines from SII and Bharat Biotech for inoculating three crore healthcare and frontline staff within the first section of the vaccination drive scheduled to start out from January 16. The price is Rs 1,300 crore.

Poonawalla mentioned dispatching vaccine was a “historical” second. “Our predominant problem is to carry it to everybody within the nation. It is our problem for 2021, let’s have a look at the way it occurs. 

He mentioned that the vaccine is being provided at a particular worth of Rs 200 for the primary 100 million doses solely to the federal government. “We’ve given a special price of Rs 200 for the first 100 mn doses only to GoI on their request, that we want to support common man, vulnerable, poor, healthcare workers. After that we’ll be selling it at Rs 1000 in private markets,” Poonawalla mentioned.

READ MORE: Covishield vaccine consignments arrive throughout numerous cities

Latest India News