NEW DELHI: The government may need ₹Rs 80 billion over the next year for the distribution of the covid-19 vaccine to all people in India, Serum Institute of India Executive Director Adar Poonawalla said on Saturday, calling it a “worrying challenge.”
“Will the government of India have Rs 80 billion available next year? Because that’s what @MoHFW_INDIA (health ministry) needs, to buy and distribute the vaccine to everyone in India. This is the next worrying challenge that we must address, “Poonawalla tweeted.
The CEO of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer also said that all manufacturers and the government must plan and guide to meet the immense need for immunization against COVID-19.
The Serum Institute is currently conducting a phase 3 clinical trial of a vaccine developed jointly by AstraZeneca plc and the University of Oxford, of which the Pune-based company plans to manufacture 1 billion doses.
The company is in a pact to produce another 1 billion doses of a vaccine developed by Novavax, for which Poonawalla’s firm will begin phase 3 testing next month.
The Serum Institute is also developing its own vaccine, which is currently in preclinical trials.
In addition to Serum, there are two other companies, Zydus Cadila and Bharat Biotech International, that are conducting Phase 2 human trials, as well as half a dozen other indigenous candidates who are in preclinical trials.
Poonawalla estimate of ₹80,000 crore, or about $ 11 billion, is substantially higher than that earned by international broker Sanford Bernstein of $ 6 billion. However, the brokerage realistically expects the government to spend just $ 2 billion to procure covid-19 vaccines for just 30% of the population, or half of the people required to achieve herd immunity, and urges the rest. from people to get it from the private market.
.
