Private companies’ people can delight as the government has agreed to give them COVID-19 vaccine form Pune-based Serum Institute of India. Initially, it was only for healthcare workers and the vulnerable prioritised population.

Serum Institutes CEO Adar Poonawalla said that once the vaccine rolls out almost 50-60 million doses of Covishield which will form the first tranche of the governments order. Following this, they will give doses to private people and hospitals along with the companies in March.

This news comes after the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved Serums vaccine for "limited use in an emergency situation, subject to conditions". The company will firstly supply the vaccine exclusively to the government and won’t sell it to the private market. Also, it is not allowed to export the vaccine. Poonawalla is planning to take the vaccine shot himself this week after the formal approval, thus endorsing the vaccine and also to build public trust.

The special price for the vaccine will be Rs 200 per shot for the government and only for the first 100 million doses. Later, it will be priced approximately Rs 1,000 per dose in the private market. They would start deliveries in 7 to 10 days after receiving the order. The government also stated they would require 50-60 million doses in a month, or almost 10-15 million doses in a week.

The formal letter from the government, that includes the final order, is still anticipated. After the governments early requirements of providing the vaccine shot to the "vulnerable and needy", then they will make it available for use to private hospitals and companies. They have recommended a gap of two and a half months between the two full doses of the vaccine shot as it might take efficacy to the 90% level. The Indian clinical trials data that proves the efficacy will be made public in the next two months.

The recommendation will come soon from the UK and they will submit it to the regulator. The DCGI said in a press release that the total vaccine efficacy of Serums vaccine was 70.42%.

Source: ET Healthworld