New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a 3 city visit to personally review the vaccine development and manufacturing process. He will visit the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune, the Prime Minister's Office has tweeted.

"As India enters a decisive phase of the fight against COVID-19, PM Modi's  visit to these facilities & discussions with the scientists will help him get a first hand perspective of the preparations, challenges & roadmap in India’s endeavour to vaccinate its citizens," the PMO said. 

The visit is aimed at reviewing the status of the vaccine candidate for coronavirus infection and to know about its launch, production, and distribution mechanisms.
According to a PTI report, the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation has granted permission for the manufacture of Covid-19 vaccine for the pre-clinical test, examination, and analysis to seven firms, two of which are the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Gennova Biopharmaceuticals.

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"We have received a confirmation about PM Modi's visit to the Serum Institute of India on Saturday, but his minute-to-minute program is yet to be received," Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao told PTI.
Rao had also informed PTI that ambassadors and envoys from 100 countries will visit the Serum Institute of India and the Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd here on December 4.

Covishield vaccine
SII has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University for Covid-19 vaccine named ‘Covishield’ for Indian markets. Oxford University and British Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca on November 23, claimed that their coronavirus vaccine candidate ‘Covishield’ showed a 70.4 percent response against the Covid-19 virus, in the interim analysis of its late-stage clinical trials, conducted in the UK and Brazil. After the results were announced, AstraZeneca acknowledged that there is an error in doses during its vaccine trials, and is issuing a fresh round of global trials.

Unlike Moderna and Pfizer vaccine there is more inclination toward the Oxford vaccine as it does not require such a cold-chain facility. The vaccine can be stored, transported, and handled at normal refrigerated conditions (2-8 degrees Celsius/ 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least six months and administered within existing healthcare settings. Apart from this, the vaccine is relatively cheaper. While the vaccines of Moderna and Pfizer are expected to be priced between $ 19.50 and $25-$37 respectively, AstraZeneca has planned to offer the vaccine at $3-$4 to the government and for private players, the cost of two doses would work out to around Rs 500 - Rs 600.
Serum Institute's CEO Adar Poonawalla said the vaccine will be priced at a maximum of Rs 1,000 for two necessary doses for the public, depending on the final trial results and regulatory approvals.