The world’s largest vaccine maker is ramping up production of AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 shot, aiming to have 100 million doses ready by December for an inoculation drive that could begin across India that same month.
The Serum Institute CEO said the initial amount of doses will go to India. After the vaccine gets full approval next year, the Serum Institute plans to distribute the vaccine on a 50-50 basis to India and Covax, a World Health Organization-backed global initiative for equitable distribution of vaccines.
Adar Poonawalla said that his company is also planning to manufacture American firm Novavax’s vaccine candidate. “We were a bit concerned it was a big risk,” he told the news network. The Serum Institute CEO added that AstraZeneca and Novavax’s shots “are looking pretty good”.
SII, which has tied-up with five developers, has already made 40 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine in the past two months, and it aims to begin manufacturing Novavax Inc’s contender soon.
