China needs good Covid 19 booster vaccine like Covovax, but they haven’t given a positive response: Adar Poonawalla

China requires a decent Covid 19 booster vaccine like Covovax, but so far there has not been a favourable reaction from China, according to Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India (SII), on Wednesday.

Talking to ANI, Poonawalla said, “Covovax is an excellent vaccine against Omicron. We have got a lot of data and global trials for it. It’s approved in the US and Europe which no other Indian COVID vaccine has. Let’s see how it goes.” “We haven’t received positive response from China. They need a good booster like our Covovax vaccine which is approved by DCGI and will soon be available on the COVID app,” he added.

According to sources, NTAGI will likely meet shortly to discuss the inclusion of Covid vaccination Covovax on the CoWIN site as a heterologous booster dosage for adults in order to increase booster dose uptake.
The Serum Institute of India has also written to the Union Health Ministry, requesting that their Covid vaccination Covovax be included on the CoWIN site.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) accepted the market authorization for Serum Institute of India (SII) COVID jab Covovax as a heterologous booster dosage on January 16.

Notably, the government panel of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has recommended market approval for Serum Institute of India’s Covid vaccine Covovax as a heterologous booster dosage for patients who have already received two doses of Covishield or Covaxin.

Adar further stated that SII is working on a malaria vaccine for Africa. The dengue vaccine is being developed and is anticipated to be ready in two years.