The joint statement comes after Bharat Biotech MD Dr Krishna Ella hit out at Serum CEO Adar Poonawalla’s comment that only Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford vaccines were effective.
In episode 653 of ‘Cut The Clutter’, the first in the new year, ThePrint’s Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta explained working of Covaxin, Covishield & Zydus Cadila’s DNA vaccine.
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, says the govt restrictions ‘will be eased out very soon once the most vulnerable population starts getting vaccinated’.
The Modi govt must not damage India’s competitive advantage in vaccines & pharmaceuticals through absurd benchmarks that will not be trusted by other countries.
The Serum Institute of India CEO said Covishield will be sold to the govt and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization countries first and on the private market later.
Officials have 'indicated orally' that first 100mn vaccines will be purchased at Rs 200 & a deal should be inked 'in next one or two days', according to Serum CEO Adar Poonawalla.
Pneumosil, developed by SII in collaboration with partners like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will be available at an affordable price, the health ministry said.
The Serum Institute CEO also said the vaccine rollout is expected to be slow in the initial phase due to some logistics issues and is expected to pick up once things get sorted.
Govt had sought additional data on the vaccine candidates of companies seeking emergency use authorisation. So far, just one company has submitted this information.
If there is bad blood between the CEC and the Opposition leaders, it will shake the people’s faith in election results. It’s the worst thing that could happen to Indian democracy.
Indian toymakers are now exploring new markets, but they want govt to negotiate a trade deal with US soon, introduce incentives and subsidies to make the industry more competitive.
Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?
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