Nagpur: While government machinery is gearing up for Covid-19 vaccination dry runs across the state and the actual drive is expected to start anytime by January 15, Serum Institute of India (SII), manufacturer of Covishield vaccine, is still awaiting order from the government of India, revealed its executive director Dr Suresh Jadhav.
Dr Jadhav, who hails from Nagpur, was speaking to TOI about the vaccine distribution. He said the company already has big orders from seven institutions across the world, but it has not committed on these yet as SII is committed to fulfil Indian order on priority basis.
Orders as big as 100 million to 200 million doses have been officially received. Further, there are many orders ranging between 7 million and 8 million doses, informed Dr Jadhav.
“We have 50 million doses ready and can deliver it the day we receive the order. We have been told verbally several times, but no official order has been placed by the government authorities yet,” said Dr Jadhav.
As per official statements of health department, India plans to vaccinate 30 million health care and front-line workers in the first phase of the vaccination for free. The government has said it plans to vaccinate 300 million (30 crore) people on priority by July this year.
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan had earlier this week said that vaccination drive in India would begin in 10 days after the two vaccines — SII’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin — received emergency use authorization. Vaccines have got approval on Sunday (January 2). It’s already January 8 and as per government’s plan, vaccination should start by January 13.
Health ministry sources said the government is negotiating price of the vaccines with both the companies. SII has already made it clear that its vaccine will cost Rs200 in government set-up. Bharat Biotech has not given any official statement on the pricing so far.
Dr Jadhav also made it clear there is no ban on export of Covishield. “There was news in a section of media that government has banned export of the vaccine made by SII. We have already clarified that it was misinformation. SII will produce the vaccine for entire world. India is on our priority. About 50% of our production is reserved for India while the other half can be exported,” said Dr Jadhav.
Waiting For Official Order
Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is manufactured in India under the brand name of Covishield
Serum Institute of India, world’s biggest vaccine maker, has already received emergency use authorization in India for Covishield
SII has already committed to provide vaccine to government of India on priority basis
Company is now waiting for official orders from the government
Doctors, health workers, police and security persons are going to get Covishield in first phase of vaccination, expected to start mid-January