Aadar Poonawalla meets Amit Shah, discusses COVID vaccine rollout ahead of Phase-2 drive

Serum Institute of India CEO Aadar Poonawalla on Friday met Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss ongoing rollout of Coronavirus vaccines in India. meeting comes three days before rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Phase-2 of mass vaccination drive in India from March 1st.

"It was my hour to brief you today, Shri Hon’ble Amit Shah Ji on vaccine capabilities of our country and ongoing rollout of vaccines in India," Poonawalla said, after meeting HM Shah. 

On February 21, Poonawalla had made an appeal asking world to be patient as Indian government has asked his company to prioritize internal vaccine needs and n balance requirement of vaccine globally. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had anunced at an open debate of UN Security Council 'implementation of resolution 2532 (2020) on cessation of hostilities in context of Covid-19 outbreak. Followed by this development, India earlier this week anunced that it will gift 2 lakh doses of vaccines for UN peacekeepers. Poonawala in a tweet wrote, “Dear countries & governments, as you await COVISHIELD supplies, I humbly request you to please be patient. We are trying our best.” SII is manufacturing  Oxford-AstraZenca vaccine in India under Covishield name and Poonawalla has been directed to balance development and supply of vaccines to entire world. 

READ | SII's Adar Poonawala Shares Details Of COVID Vaccine: 'First 100m Doses To Cost Rs 200'

READ | SII's Poonawalla Asks All To Be Patient For Vaccine; 'prioritising India; Balancing World'

'First 100m Doses To Cost Rs 200': Poonawalla

Last month, Poonawala had called dispatch of vaccines a 'historical moment', sharing details of vaccine's market price and international supply. "This is a historical moment that vaccine is being dispatched from our factory. Our main challenge is to bring it to everyone in country. It is our challenge for 2021, let's see how it happens," said SII CEO. Elaborating on price of COVID-19 vaccine, Poonawala had said that SII would initially focus on making vaccine available at a reasonable price to healthcare workers instead of focusing on profits. For first 100 million doses, vaccine would be available at just Rs 200. "We've given a special price of Rs 200 for first 100 million doses only to GoI on ir 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. To Govt of India, we'll still maintain a very reasonable price but it will be a little bit more than Rs 200 which is our cost price. So we decided t to make any profit, we wanted to support nation & Govt of India for first 100 million doses," said Poonawala. 

India's SII, Bharat Biotech, Zydus Cadilla, Panacea Biotec, Indian Immulogicals, Mynvax and Biological E;  US' Oxford University with AstraZeneca, Moderna rapeutics, Ocugen Inc; Britain's Covax are a few in many candidates that have been playing a significant role in developing, manufacturing, supply, and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

READ | 'Committed To Provide Level Playing Field: Amit Shah Lauds Guidelines On OTT, Social Media

READ | HM Amit Shah Wants Cheteshwar Pujara To Score A Match-winning 200 In Ahmedabad