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"We might get emergency license by this month-end, but licence for wider use might come at a later date. But, we are confident that if the regulators give a nod, India’s vaccination drive can start by January 2021,” said Poonawalla in a report by Hindustan Times.
SII is developing the vaccine in collaboration with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca to manufacture the vaccine in India. The company On Monday informed that it had applied for approval for the emergency use of the Oxford university vaccine, Covishield. It was the first Indian company to do so. The pharma company has applied for authorisation to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) citing unmet medical needs due to the pandemic and in the interest of the public at large, said sources in a report by PTI.
According to media reports, SII is likely to sign a supply contract with the central government, under which the price of the COVID-19 vaccine may be fixed at Rs 250 per dose and approximately 60 million could be made available soon. The company is likely to have around 100 million doses for the government by January-February (2021), if the Centre chooses to procure.