'Not Possible To Ramp Up COVISHIELD Production Overnight,' Clarifies SII CEO Adar Poonawalla

SII CEO Adar Poonawalla on Monday clarified that he received total orders of over 26 crore doses from the central government. In an official statement, he claimed, "we have also got 100 per cent advance of Rs 1,732.50 crore by GoI for the next tranche of 11 crore doses in the next few months."

SII CEO Adar Poonawalla

New Delhi: Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO and Owner Adar Poonawalla on Monday issued a clarification amid contradictory reports with regard to the orders placed by the government to Covid-19 manufacturers and said his company has received orders of over 26 crore vaccine doses.

“As of today, we received total orders of over 26 crore doses of which we supplied more than 15 crore doses. We have also got 100 per cent advance of Rs 1,732.50 crore by GoI for the next tranche of 11 crore doses in the next few months. Another 11 crore doses would be supplied in the second channel for states and private hospitals in the next few months,” he said in a statement.

Asserting “vaccine manufacturing is a specialized process”, Poonawalla said “it is, therefore, not possible to ramp up production overnight”.

“We also need to understand that the population of India is huge and to produce enough doses for all adults is not an easy task. Even the most advanced countries and companies are atruggling in relatively smaller populations,” he added.

Poonawalla said the Serum Institute of India has been working closely with the Centre since April and has been receiving all assistance.

“We have got all kinds of support, be it scientific, regulatory and financial,” he added.

Poonawalla further said the Serum Institute of India “shall work even harder and strengthen India’s fight against Covid-19”.

“Lastly, we understand that everyone wants the vaccine to be available in the quickest possible time. This is our endeavor too and we are making every effort to achieve that,” he added.

Poonawala also shared the statement on Twitter while stating “it is important that correct information be shared with the public”.

“Amongst multiple reports it is important that correct information be shared with the public,” he posted on the micro-blogging platform along with the statement.

READ: Reports Alleging No Fresh Order Has Been Placed For Covid-19 Vaccines Are ‘Incorrect’: Health Ministry

Earlier in the day, the Health Ministry said some media reports alleging that the Centre has not placed any fresh order for Covid-19 vaccines are completely incorrect and not based on facts.

The Union Health Ministry, which reacted to news reports suggesting that the last order placed with the two vaccine makers (100 million doses with SII and 20 million doses with Bharat Biotech) was in March 2021, clarified that 100% advance of Rs. 1732.50 crore (after TDS Rs. 1699.50 crore) was released to the Serum Institute of India (SII) on April 28 for 11 crore doses of Covishield vaccine during May, June and July, and was received by them on the same day.