Pune: As India's vaccine rollout would begin on January 16, flights have been loaded with boxes of Covishield vaccine. States braces for the vaccine and health systems have been geared up for the mass inoculation exercise. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India in conversation with media shares the prospects of the vaccine.
"As the country is distressed with the pandemic, we decided not to resort to profit-making business during the vaccine rollout," said Poonawalla.
"For the first 100 million doses, meant for the frontline workers, vulnerable and common people, it would be provided at the cost of Rs 200 per dose. It amounts to our cost price. Later, we would sell it in the private market at the rate of Rs 1,000," he added.
"Dispatch of the vaccine from our factory is highly decisive as well as a historical moment. Vaccinating each and every citizen in the country is our aim. It is the challenge ahead of us in 2021," said Poonawalla. We have also partnered with several private players for plying the vaccine in trucks and cold storage.
"Further, plans are ongoing to supply the vaccine to Africa, South America. Health Ministry has created logistic plans. PMO has received requests from numerous countries for the supply of Covishield from SII.On a monthly basis, we manufacture 70 to 80 million doses," he added.
According to reports, 1.01 crore doses of Covishield were ordered by the government and it is planned to buy 5.60 crore doses in total by April. The vaccine would be administered to health workers and frontline workers like the police, civil defence personnel and sanitation workers in the first phase. Later, vulnerable group with co-morbidities including diabetes and hypertension, over the age of 50 years would be given the vaccine, reports said.
Also read: First lot of COVID-19 vaccine vials to arrive in Kolkata on Tuesday
