Probably the only thing people in India are waiting for right now with bated breath is a coronavirus vaccine! News of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by scientists at the Oxford University showing positive results has given hope to many.
A few days after the news made headlines, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla announced that his company is to partner with Oxford University and will manufacture the vaccines, 50% of which will be supplied to India and the rest to other countries, reports India Today. The vaccine is to be called “Covishield” in India.
Serum Institute of India is to begin Phase-3 of the human trials of the vaccine in the country with 4,000 to 5,000 volunteers. If the results are favourable, mass manufacturing of the vaccine with begin.
The firm has signed an agreement with Oxford University and UK-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca in which they are to supply one billion doses to India, reports Business Today.
In an interview with India Today, Adar Poonawalla revealed that if the results go as planned, “a few million doses” of the vaccine will be ready by November-December 2020, and another 300-400 million doses by the first quarter of 2021 for mass usage.
The Covishield vaccine is to be priced at Rs 1,000. However, Poonawalla added that the Indian government might distribute it for free.
“It will be given out at a very affordable price. We are planning to put the price at around Rs 1,000 or less than that per dose. I don’t think any individual will have to pay for it because the vaccines will mostly be bought by governments and then distributed free through the immunisation programmes,” he said.
Talking about the “ethical way” of distributing the vaccines, Poonawalla said:
“The ethical way of distributing the vaccine is that the elderly and the immuno-compromised (who are most vulnerable) get the vaccine first, along with frontline healthcare workers. The healthy adults can get the vaccine later on.”
He added that since we are amidst a global pandemic, he wants the vaccine to be affordable. Later when the pandemic subsides, he’ll think about selling it in commercial rates and will make it available in private markets.
Finally, some light at the end of the tunnel!