OXFORD COVID-19 VACCINE CAN BE 90% EFFECTIVE; SERUM INSTITUTE CEO SHARES UPDATE ON AVAILABILITY 

After months of wait, Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla said he is 'delighted' that Covishield will offer up to 90 percent protection against coronavirus. His statement come as AstraZeneca reported that its COVID-19 vaccine could be around 90 percent effective without any serious side effects.

"I am delighted to hear that, Covishield, a low-cost, logistically manageable & soon to be widely available, #COVID19 vaccine, will offer protection up to 90% in one type of dosage regime and 62% in the other dosage regime," Adar Poonawalla tweeted. 

Currently, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is being made in partnership with Serum Institute. Oxford reported that one dose regimen was 90 percent effective when the vaccine was given as a half dose, followed by a full dose at least a month apart.

While another dose regimen shows 62 percent efficacy when two full doses are given at least a month apart. The combined analysis has an average efficacy of 70 per cent, AstraZeneca said in a statement.

Further giving an update on the availability, the Serum Institute of India is aiming to have 100 million doses ready by December that could begin across India, said Poonawalla.

Even the world's biggest vaccine maker which is partnered to produce at least one billion doses may get emergency authorization from the government by December. 

I am delighted to hear that, Covishield, a low-cost, logistically manageable & soon to be widely available, #COVID19 vaccine, will offer protection up to 90% in one type of dosage regime and 62% in the other dosage regime. Further details on this, will be provided this evening. https://t.co/KCr3GmROiW

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) November 23, 2020