COVID-19 Vaccine: Serum Institute Will Make 300-400 Million Doses of 'Covishield' Ready by December 2020, Says Adar Poonawalla

Mumbai, July 22: Adar Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India (SII) on Tuesday stated that over 300 million doses of the potential COVID-19 vaccine will be ready by December, reports India Today. Poonawalla made the comments after reports stated that AstraZeneca and Oxford University are showing encouraging results in the trials of COVID-19 vaccine.

Speaking to India Today, SII CEO said, "Covishield is going to be the first COVID-19 vaccine we hope to launch if trials are successful in the UK and India." However, Poonawalla opined that the vaccine might reach to the larger section of people by the first quarter of 2021. Coronavirus Vaccine by Oxford: Serum Institute of India to Start Licensure Trials, Manufacturing of AZD1222 Soon.

Adding more details, the pharma firm chief said that the vaccine will cost around Rs 1,000 in India and each dose has 10 vials. Poonawalla claimed SII has been chosen by Oxford and its partner AstraZeneca to manufacture the vaccine once it gets ready.

Poonawalla said, "The trials have shown promising results and we are extremely happy about it. We will be applying for the licensure trials to the Indian regulator in a week's time. As soon as they grant us permission, we will begin with the trials for the vaccine in India. In addition, we will soon start manufacturing the vaccine in large volumes."

Earlier, AstraZeneca said in a statement that interim results from the ongoing Phase I/II COV001 trial -- led by Oxford University -- showed that the vaccine was tolerated and generated robust immune responses against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in all evaluated participants.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2020 03:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).