SII also said that the vaccines were exported earlier in January since a large stockpile of doses were left, and the country's number of Covid cases were at an all-time low.
In affidavits to SC, 9 states have said SII & Bharat Biotech have either expressed inability to supply the stock by May-end or said there will be staggered delivery over the next 2-3 months.
Modi govt Friday said it had told states to prioritise second dose of Covid vaccines over first dose in a 70:30 ratio, in what may be its first admission about shortage of vaccines.
Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka have urged the Modi government to let commercial Covid vaccine shipments go through. Sri Lanka has reached out to China, Russia for vaccine doses.
The announcement came ahead of a virtual summit between PM Boris Johnson & Narendra Modi. SII has also started phase 1 trials of a nasal vaccine against coronavirus in the UK.
Media reports alleging that the Centre has not placed any fresh order for Covid-19 vaccines are 'incorrect and not based on facts', the Union Health Ministry said.
Poonawalla made the announcement soon after he spoke out about pressures he was under over the production of Covid vaccines to meet India's ever-increasing demand amid shortages.
The move comes after many states objected to different pricing of the vaccines, with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal saying this is not time for profiteering.
Pune is home to Serum Institute of India and National Institute of Virology. But it’s second only to Mumbai in the number of Covid infections reported in Maharashtra.
The most geopolitically consequential dimension is Donald Trump’s attempt to anchor a US-Russia reset into this peace package. This includes diplomatic and economic ties.
The industry forecasts exports are set to grow 16% in 2025-26, boosted by surplus domestic production and a drive to push into 26 underserved global markets with strong potential.
Indigenisation level will progressively increase up to 60 percent with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts being manufactured locally.
It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.
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