Serum Institute of India will soon get European Medicine Agency approval for its vaccine, Covishield, in a month, said Serum Instiute of India chief Adar Poonawalla on Wednesday. He was addressing India Global Forum 2021.
“It is not a controversy, it is just that blown out of proportion and the issue of vaccine passports should be on the basis of reciprocity between the countries,” Adar Poonawalla was quoted by ANI as saying.
“The EMA is absolutely correct in asking us to apply, which we have through AstraZeneca, our partners, a month ago, and that process has to take its time. Even the UK MHRA, WHO took its time and we have applied to the EMA,” said Adar Poonawala.
“We are quite confident that in a month EMA will approve Covishield. There is no reason why not to because it is based on AstraZeneca data and our product is identical to AstraZeneca more or less and it has been approved by WHO, UK MHRA. So it’s just a matter of time. It is not really going to hinder anything,” the SII chief said.
He further said, “In March, we were able to produce around 70 million doses and now in the month of June, I am pleased to announce that we are producing 90 million doses a month. Probably will have another 10 per cent to that output in August.”
This comes after reports that travellers who were administered Covishield , the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine manufactured in India by the SII, many not get ‘Green Pass’, which is mandatory for traveling across the world.
Covishield is one of the four vaccines approved in India.
