Might launch Covovax in India by October: Serum CEO Adar Poonawalla

Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Serum Institute of India (SII), expressed optimism today that another coronavirus vaccine, Covovax, made in India, will be released in October this year for adults and children by the first quarter of 2022.

The Serum CEO also thanked the Centre for all the support provided to the SII and said the company is always trying to expand its Covishield production capacity to meet the demand.

Poonawalla met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament, where they spoke for 30 minutes.

“The government is helping us and we are facing no financial crunch. We are thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for all the cooperation and support,” Poonawala told news agency PTI after his meeting.

When asked about vaccines for kids, he said, “The Covovax vaccine for kids will be launched in the first quarter of the next year most likely in January-February.”

Poonawala said he is hopeful that for adults Covovax will be launched in October, depending on DCGI approvals.

It will be a two-dose vaccine and the price will be decided at the time of launch, the Serum chief added.

On production capacity of Covishield, the vaccine being manufactured and supplied by Serum in India under a licensing agreement with Oxford and AstraZeneca, he said the present capacity is 130 million doses per month and always try to increase it further.