Will produce 70-80 million doses each month, plans underway to see requirement for India: SII CEO Poonawalla
New Delhi: The Serum Institute of India (SII) makes 70 to 80 million doses each month and planning is underway for distribution to India and overseas international locations, mentioned Adar Poonawalla, CEO and Owner, SII.
“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 a partnership with private players for trucks, vans and cold storage.”
Poonawalla mentioned many international locations have been writing to India and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for vaccines to be provided from Serum Institute to their international locations.
We’re attempting to provide vaccine to Africa, South America. So we’re doing a bit bit all over the place. So we’ll attempt to preserve everybody joyful: Adar Poonawalla, CEO and Owner, Serum Institute of India#Covishield https://t.co/WioZLWw9zu
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
“We are trying to keep everyone happy. We have to take care of our population and nation as well. We are trying to supply the vaccine to Africa, South America. So we are doing a little bit everywhere. So we will try to keep everyone happy,” he mentioned.
“We have given a special price of Rs 200 for the first 100 million doses only to the Government of India on their request because we want to support the common man, vulnerable, poor and healthcare workers. After that, we will be selling it at Rs 1,000 in private markets,” he mentioned.
The SII CEO knowledgeable that the federal government has not given its nod concerning promoting the vaccine within the non-public market.
We make 70-80 million doses each month. Planning is underway to see what number of will likely be given to India and overseas international locations. Health Ministry has made logistics plans. We even have partnership with pvt gamers for vehicles, vans and chilly storage: CEO-Owner, Serum Institute of India pic.twitter.com/v5OINQwTXB
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
“In the private market, for those who want to purchase the vaccine, the price would be Rs 1,000. But we have not received permission for this…,” he mentioned.
The first consignment containing vials of the Covishield vaccine was dispatched from the Serum Institute of India within the early hours of Tuesday, forward of the January 16 launch of the nationwide vaccination drive.
After the primary consignment of “Covishield” was dispatched from the Pune manufacturing facility, Poonawalla termed it a historic second.
“This is a historic moment that the vaccine is being dispatched from our factory. Our main challenge is to make it available to everyone in the country. It is our challenge for 2021, let us see how it happens,” Poonawalla instructed ANI.
Amid tight safety, three vehicles carrying the consignment of the vaccine left for Pune airport to be flown to 13 places throughout the nation in the present day.
The places included Delhi, Karnal, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bhubhaneshwar, Kolkata and Guwahati.
Pune-based logistic agency Kool-ex Cold Chain was tasked with ferrying the vaccine shares by way of tech-enabled vehicles laced with temperature management function starting from -25 levels to +25 levels Celsius.
The first part of the COVID-19 vaccination drive within the nation is ranging from January 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier mentioned: “We aim to vaccinate 30 crore people in the next few months.”
Around 3 crore healthcare employees and frontline employees will likely be vaccinated within the first part of vaccination, he added. In the second part, these above 50 years and people beneath 50 years with co-morbid circumstances will likely be vaccinated, he additional mentioned.
