Serum Institute Denies Reports Claiming Indians To Get Covid-19 Vaccine Shots In 73 Days

The world's largest vaccine manufacturer further said that Phase-3 trials for Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are underway and the company will confirm its availability only once the vaccine is proven immunogenic and efficacious.

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While on one hand where World seeks for quick development of a vaccine for the novel Coronavirus, the Serum Institute of India (SSI) in partnership with Oxford University to produce Covid-19 vaccine has clarified that the reports claiming "Covid-19 vaccine may be launched in 73 days" is "false and conjectural." According to a report by news agency ANI, the Pune-based firm in its clarification has stated that the government has permitted to only manufacture Covishield and stockpile it for future use, which will be commercialised once trials are proven successful. The world's largest vaccine manufacturer further said that Phase-3 trials for Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are underway and the company will confirm its availability only once the vaccine is proven immunogenic and efficacious. Earlier today, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan told that the Serum Institute of India had informed that it was ready to begin human trials in India this month and was hoping to have the AstraZeneca vaccine available by the year-end. Briefing more on the vaccine development process, the minister informed that India is going well in the race of COVID 19 vaccine and Indians might get a vaccine by the end of the year 2020. Apart from Oxford-AstraZeneca efforts of developing the vaccines produced by the Serum Institute of India, the COVAXIN jointly developed by Bharat Biotech and ICMR; and the Zydus Cadila ZyCoV-D vaccine are being tested across the country. The ZyCoV-D from Zydus Cadila could complete its clinical trials in a few months. According to the report, the government is considering an initial order of about 50 lakh doses of Coronavirus vaccine for certain groups of people such as frontline workers and army personnel.