Serum Institute Stops Covishield Production, Current Stock Expires: Poonawalla

Serum Institute of India (SII) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adar Poonawalla said on Thursday that SII has stopped production of Covishield vaccine from December 2021 and is out of the total stock at present.

Poonawalla said, about 100 million doses are available during the use period. That is, this vaccine has passed the expiry date. He said in general that whether covid virus is tired or not, people are tired of it now, they are tired of battling it. They are now not much interested in producing the vaccine.

The Annual General Meeting of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) began in Pune. Coming out, Poonawalla said that there is no demand for pre-precautionary dose, as people are fed up with the pandemic and have become apathetic about vaccination.

When asked about the updated information related to the covishield vaccine, Poonawalla said, "We have stopped production (of covishield) from December 2021. We had a stock-pile of crore of vaccines at that time, of which 100 million doses have expired." He said that it is permissible to introduce mixed doses of SII vaccines.

Now Covovax can be approved in the next two weeks, Poonawalla said, "So I think they will probably allow mixed doses of preventive vaccines and they should. If the WHO (World Health Organisation) approves it, then probably the Indian regulator will also give permission and should do so."

However, at present, there is no demand for a precautionary dose, he added. There is generally indifference to precautionary doses.