Corona Vaccine: Know How Serum Institute Plans To Distribute The Oxford Vaccine In India

The Pune-based Serum Institute of India has sought approval for the emergency use of the Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine in India. Here's how they plan to distribute it.

Vaccine For Covid-19 (Representational Image: AFP/Getty)

New Delhi: The Pune-based Serum Institute of India has sought approval for the emergency use of the Oxford university vaccine. In its application to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) the company has cited unmet medical needs due to the pandemic and in the interest of the public at large. SII is the first Indian pharma to apply for authorisation and it came after the US-based pharma Pfizer applied an emergency use authorisation for its Covid-19 vaccine in the country.

As promised, before the end of 2020, @SerumInstIndia has applied for emergency use authorisation for the first made-in-India vaccine, COVISHIELD. This will save countless lives, and I thank the Government of India and Sri @narendramodi ji for their invaluable support.

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) December 7, 2020

What are the plans for vaccine distribution? In media reports, CEO Adar Poonawalla has maintained that India will be the main priority during the vaccine distribution. It will then look at COVAX countries which are mostly in Africa. COVAX is the World Health Organization-backed body that's purchasing shots for poor nations. The company will also focus on bulk orders first before the vaccine becomes available for individuals. While speaking to the media, Poonawalla said, "It’s very important we take care of our country first, then go on to Covax after that and then other bilateral deals with countries. So I’ve kept it in that priority." He had also said in a report by IANS, that full approval early next year will allow distribution on a 50-50 basis between the south Asian nation and Covax. Poonawalla had also said earlier that the Serum Institute is in talks with the government for a purchase agreement. He had said that the AstraZeneca vaccine will hit Indian markets by April 2021. Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said in an all-party meet early eight vaccines are at different stages of trial with their manufacturing assured in India and once the scientists give a green signal it will be released in a few weeks. He said that Central and state government teams are working in tandem for the distribution of the vaccine against COVID-19, Modi said, adding that India has the expertise in vaccine distribution as well as capacity. A special software Covin has also been developed for vaccine distribution that can help people track the status of the vaccine in India.