Updated: November 28, 2020 8:44:24 pm
Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla welcomed the Prime Minister along with his son and SII Executive Director, Adar, and the latter’s wife, Natasha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the Serum Institute of India in Pune, his last stop during his three-city tour to the country’s vaccination centers. At IBS, he spent an hour reviewing the manufacturing process and cold storage facility, where more than 50 million doses of the Covishield vaccine are ready for launch.
Earlier in the day, Modi visited the plant of the pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadila near Ahmedabad, which is developing ZyCov-D. From there, he flew to Hyderabad where he visited Bharat BioTech, which is developing Covaxin, India’s first indigenous vaccine candidate.
“It was an excellent visit. The Prime Minister was very impressed with the IBS manufacturing plant and asked us to come out with the vaccine as soon as possible, ”Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, President of the Poonawalla Group, told The Indian Express.
Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla welcomed the Prime Minister along with his son and SII Executive Director, Adar, and the latter’s wife, Natasha.
I had a good interaction with the team at the Serum Institute of India. They shared details about their progress so far on how they plan to increase vaccine manufacturing further. He also took a look at their manufacturing facilities. pic.twitter.com/PvL22uq0nl
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2020
“While Modi praised SII’s efforts to introduce the vaccine as soon as possible, he spent an hour at the facility understanding in great detail what we are doing and how we are progressing. He told us to make efforts to educate people about the need for the vaccine, otherwise people might be reluctant to ignore its benefits, ”said Dr. Poonawalla.
The Prime Minister interacted with leading scientists from the Serum Institute of India and tried to find out the status of the trials. “He asked us if the government can help in the effort,” Dr. Poonawalla said.
Read also | More evidence for IBS to achieve Oxford half-dose efficacy
Scientists such as Dr. Rajeev Dhere, executive director of SII, asked the Prime Minister some pertinent questions. “It was a very positive experience”.
Previously, PM Modi was met at Pune Airport by Lieutenant General CP Mohanty, Commander of the Southern Army, Air Commodore H Assudani, Maharashtra Police Director General Subodh Jaiswal, Division Commissioner Saurabh Rao, City Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta and the district collector Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh.
PM reviews ZyCov-D vaccine progress at Zydus Biotech Park
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Zydus Biotechnology Park in Changodar on Saturday and reviewed the development of an indigenous Covid vaccine at the facility by Cadila Healthcare Ltd.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives briefing during a visit to the Zydus Biotech Park to review the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, in Ahmedabad (PTI)
Modi, who arrived at the facility located about 20 kilometers from Ahmedabad, spent more than an hour in the park where he met with the president of Cadila Healthcare Ltd, Pankaj Patel and his son Sharvil Patel, who is the managing director of the company. .
“We were honored to host PM Modi at Zydus Biotech Park today. PM Modi reviewed efforts toward vaccine development. He shared very valuable input on how to further strengthen the vaccine development program and ensure a Covid-free world, ”Sharvil said on social media. Pankaj Patel, president of the company, said the prime minister interacted in detail with scientific staff regarding the Covid vaccine and gave a number of suggestions.
I visited the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad to learn more about the indigenous DNA-based vaccine that Zydus Cadila is developing. I congratulate the team behind this effort for their work. The Government of India is actively working with them to support them on this journey. pic.twitter.com/ZIZy9NSY3o
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2020
After visiting Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Modi tweeted: “He visited Zydus Biotechnology Park in Ahmedabad to learn more about the indigenous DNA-based vaccine being developed by Zydus Cadila. I congratulate the team behind this effort for their work. The government of India is actively working with them to support them on this journey. ”While returning to the helipad from the premises, Prime Minister Modi also exited his vehicle briefly to greet the people who had gathered to see him.
(ENS Ahmedabad Tickets)
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
.
