COVID-19 Vaccine 'Covishield' to be Available in 73 Days? Serum Institute of India Calls Media Reports False and Conjectural
Amid the reports of COVID-19 vaccine -- 'Covishield' --'s availability in the market in 73 days, Serum Institute of India quashed it on Sunday by clarifying that the Union government has only granted permission to only manufacture the vaccine and stockpile it for future use. The SII also said that the media reports are completely false and conjectural.
New Delhi, August 23: Amid the reports of COVID-19 vaccine -- 'Covishield' --availability in the market in 73 days, Serum Institute of India quashed it on Sunday by clarifying that the Union government has only granted permission to only manufacture the vaccine and stockpile it for future use. The SII also said that the media reports are completely false and conjectural.
Earlier few media houses claimed that the COVID-10 vaccine will be available in 73 days. Quashing the claims, SII released a statement and said, "Serum Institute of India clarifies that the current claims over COVISHIELD's availability, in the media are completely false and conjectural. Presently, the government has granted us permission to only manufacture the vaccine and stockpile it for future use." COVID-19 Vaccine Update: 'Covishield' of Oxford-Astrazeneca and Serum Institute Possibly India's 1st Shot, Release Likely by 2020-End.
Covering the aspect of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, SII statement said, "The phase-3 trials for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are still underway. And only once the vaccine is proven immunogenic and efficacious, SII will confirm its availability, officially."
Here's what SII statement said:
It is to be known that SII is currently conducting phase-III clinical trials for its vaccine candidate 'Covishield' across 17 different sites in India. One of the sites includes the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh.
Fact check
COVID-19 vaccine COVISHIELD to be available in 73 days.
The report is fake as SII clarified that the Union government has only granted permission to only manufacture the vaccine and stockpile it for future use.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2020 03:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).