Covid Vaccine Drive: Adar Poonawalla Calls Covishield Dispatch A 'Proud And Historic' Moment

SII has offered the vaccine to the Government of India (GoI) at a special price of Rs 200, CEO Poonawalla said

Updated on: 12 January 2021 7:39 pm

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India described the dispatch of Covishield vaccines as a "proud and historic" moment. The national inoculation
drive will be carried out on January 16 at various parts of the country.

Serum Institute of India staff pack Covid-19 vaccines for dispatch

Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla while speaking to the select media persons at the SII facility said the real challenge lies in taking the vaccine to the "common man, to the vulnerable groups of people and to healthcare workers".

The first consignment of the Covid vaccines rolled out of the SII facility in Pune for transport to various locations in the country on early Tuesday.

Also Read| Government Likely To Buy Another 4.5 Crore Doses Of Covishield Vaccine By April

"Our trucks left the SII facility early morning and now the vaccine is being distributed in the entire country. This is a proud and historic moment as scientists, experts and all other stake-holders took great efforts while making this vaccine in less than a year," he said.

Poonawalla said the SII has offered the vaccine to the Government of India (GoI) at a special price of Rs 200.

"This is one of the most affordable vaccines in the world and we are offering it to the GoI at a special price just to support the Prime Minister's vision and to support the 'aam aadami' of our country," he added.

Also Read|Serum Institute’s First Covid Vaccine Consignment To Reach 13 Locations Today

He also said that once the SII get the requisite permission, the vaccine will be made available in the private market at the cost Rs 1,000.

Poonawalla further said the SII is not only providing the vaccine in India, "but it is also committed to provide it to other countries who are looking at India at this point".

Covishield is developed by Oxford University and British-Swedish company AstraZeneca and manufactured by the SII.

A 'puja' was performed before the three temperature controlled trucks rolled out of Serum Institute gates shortly before 5 am and moved towards the Pune airport, about 15 km away, from where the vaccines were flown across India.

(With PTI Inputs)