The Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII) in India had to be discarded of after 100 million doses expired this September. According to CEO Adar Poonawalla, the company ceased manufacturing Covishield in December of last year due to low demand.

The Vaxzevria vaccine from AstraZeneca has been produced locally by SII, the biggest vaccine manufacturer in the world. In India, Covishield makes up more than 90% of all dosages.

Over two billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccination have been given out in India. According to the federal health ministry, more than 70% of Indians have received at least two doses. India started providing boosters in January 2022 to frontline healthcare personnel, those over 60, and people with comorbid conditions. Later, it was made available to all adults.

To commemorate 75 years of Indias independence, free booster doses, or precaution doses as the government refers to them, were given to all adults in July for a period of 75 days. According to the health ministry, India has only given out 298 million booster doses thus far.

The SII had around 100 million doses of Covishield in stock, with a nine-month shelf life that ended in September of this year and hence discarded, according to Mr. Poonawala.

Mr. Poonawala added that the Covid vaccination Covovax as a booster dose had successfully completed trials and within the next two weeks the vaccine should receive approval. He further added that SII has also collaborated on an Omicron-specific booster with the US biotech firm Novavax.

(Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63324548)