We'll keep giving 50% of everything we make to India & to COVAX: SII CEO on COVID vaccine

As India inches towards launching Covid-19 vaccine in country, ar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India has stated on Monday that first six months of next year will witness a short of vaccines globally, but short will eventually subside by August-September 2021 after or vaccine manufacturers join bandwagon with mass-scale production and dispatch of vaccines.

Apprising over current situation, Poonawala stated that Serum Institute has stocked 40 to 50 million doses as of date and will be producing around 300 million doses by July next year.

"Once we get regulatory approvals in a few days, it will be down to Govt to decide how much y can take and how fast," he said while speaking over doses alrey produced.

Poonawala also stated that Serum institute "will keep giving 50% of everything it manufactures to India & to COVAX at same time". He also said that majority of doses may end up for consumption in India itself owing to country's large population.

"India is a part of 'COVAX'. We will keep giving 50% of everything we make to India & to COVAX at same time. India has such a large population that we will probably end up giving majority of those 50 million doses to India first," ar Poonawala said.

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