Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has urged other nations to be patient as they wait for Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine Covishield as the institute has been asked to balance huge needs for India while balancing out the needs of rest of the world. He said the institute is trying its best to meet everyone’s need.

Poonawalla tweeted – Dear countries & governments, as you await #COVISHIELD supplies, I humbly request you to please be patient, @SerumInstIndia has been directed to prioritise the huge needs of India and along with that balance the needs of the rest of the world. We are trying our best.

In an interview last month, Poonawalla had said the export of the vaccine will not be at the cost of India’s supplies. He added that the institute will be sending the vaccine to 30 countries in next few weeks.

Covishield is one of the two approved vaccines by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) with which India is running its vaccination drive. The two vaccines have already been exported to many countries including Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mauritius and Seychelles.

A few days back, World Health Organisation (WHO) approved emergency use listing (EUL) of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine- Covishield. This will enable distribution of Covid-19 vaccine to low-income countries. World’s largest vaccine maker Serum Institute of India can now begin supply of Covishield to COVAX initiative backed by World Health Organisation. The programme was initiated to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines and has been joined 190 countries.

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The decision to grant EUL to Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was taken after WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) reviewed it on February 8. The expert committee has recommended the vaccine for all age groups above 18.

Earlier, in his radio address, prime minister Narendra Modi had said India was a self-reliant nation, which was able to help other countries during this crisis.

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India might be getting its first Covid-19 vaccine soon as Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation’s Subject Expert Committee (SEC) will be taking a call on emergency use authorisation of Oxford University-Astrazeneca Covid-19 vaccine Covishield being developed by Serum Institute of India (SII) later in the day today.

Earlier, the vaccine was approved by the UK government following recommendation by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Expressing his delight at the development AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said it was significant in fight against Covid-19. Last week, Serum Institute of India had submitted additional data on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine following Drug Controller General of India’s demand early this month.

The approval to Covishield was granted in the UK following rigorous clinical trials and a thorough analysis of the data. MHRA has said the vaccine has been able to adhere to the standards set up by it for safety, quality and effectiveness.

UK has already begun vaccination drive in the country with Pfizer vaccine. Over 6 lakh people in the country have been vaccinated in the country since emergency use approval was granted to the Pfizer vaccine.

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Although Pfizer has also applied for emergency use authorization in India, big questions remain about the price, storage facility and transport feasibility of the vaccine. Covishield seems to be better alternative for India as it will be affordable and can be stored at normal fridge temperature. There are also concerns regarding the safety of Pfizer vaccine as many people who have been administered with it have reported allergic reactions. An official of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that the reaction might be a result of  polyethylene glycol, which has been used in the manufacturing of the Covid-19 vaccine by the drugmaker.  

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