Pune-based Serum Institute of India is planning to begin vaccine production outside India as it struggles to meet supply commitments. The pharma giant, which manufactures the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, will officially announce in the next few days.
Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla told the Times on Friday that the comapny is going to make an announcement in the next few days. Last week, he had said that the Serum Institute would be able to raise its monthly output to 100 million doses by July, later than a previous timeline of end May. He hoped to increase its vaccine production capacity from 2.5 billion to 3 billion doses a year within six months. He said that he flew to London before Britain banned travelers from India eight days ago.
Several states in India have run out of vaccines against Covid-19. After several states reported vaccine shortage and denied to extend the coverage to all adults above 18 years of age in Phase 3, the Centre on Friday said over 1 crore of Covid vaccine doses are still available in stocks with states.
India has been witnessing an alarming surge in Covid cases over the last few weeks. Coronavirus cases and deaths have surged in India as the world’s second-most populous country has reported more than 300,000 new infections daily for nine consecutive days, hitting another global record of 386,452 on Friday. Authorities lifted restrictions, allowing the resumption of large festivals and political rallies.
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Amid the controversy on vaccine pricing, Bharat Biotech has reduced the price for states from Rs 600 to 400 per dose while the Serum Institute of India has cut the prices from Rs 400 to 300.
The surge has led to a public health crisis and forced the government to seek oxygen, medicines, and other essentials from abroad. The nation’s coronavirus cases may peak between May 3-5, according to scientists advising the government.