India is currently conducting clinical trials of vaccines to fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing facility has now announced a revised date by which an “approved” vaccine will be ready in India.
“Globally, there are four candidates that are close to an approval by the end of the CY2020 or early 2021. Through partnerships India has access to two of those – AZ/ Oxford’s viral vector vaccine and Novavax’s protein sub-unit with AZ/ Oxford’s Vaccine ahead by a quarter,” says IANS report. “With their existing capacities SII is best positioned to commercialise one or both of the partnered vaccine candidates depending on approval timing capacities and pricing.”
SII has confirmed, taking all the potential vaccines’ clinical trials reports into consideration, that one among them is expected to be approved by the first quarter of 2021.
SII has reportedly said that the company can supply close to 600 million doses in 2021 and 1 billion doses in 2022, out of which 500 million “should be available in India in 2021.” “We believe the government channel will have first access to the capacities but also believe there will be a sizable private marker. In terms of funding, manpower, and delivery infrastructure the government will struggle to shoulder the burden on its own and we expect the private marker to step in and supplement.”
Further, each vaccine has been priced at three dollars per dose.