Pune- based research lab Serum Institute of India has proposed a plan to release an effective COVID-19 vaccine in 2020 in a move to battle the Coronavirus.
The institute is now working in unison with British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to manufacture and test the vaccine prepared by Oxford University.
The aim is to produce and deliver 1 billion vaccines around the world, including India, and have around 400 million vaccines delivered by the end of 2020.
Oxford University is currently the front-runner in the vaccine race with more than one clinical trial conducted so far. It has launched its second and third phase clinical trial with around 10,000 adults being tested.
The vaccine is slated for mass delivery by the end of the year 2020.
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Further distribution and marketing of the vaccine drugs will be done by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) & Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The Oxford University report states that this move is essential towards the distribution of the vaccine in low and middle-income countries. Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer, SII, said: “Serum Institute of India is delighted to partner with AstraZeneca in bringing this vaccine to India as well as low-and-middle-income countries. Over the past 50 years, SII has built significant capability in vaccine manufacturing and supply globally. We will work closely with AstraZeneca to ensure fair and equitable distribution of the vaccine in these countries.”
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