Indian Govt: COVID Vaccine in 73 Days, Free for All - Details

Under the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) India will be immunised for the new novel coronavirus infection. The Serum Institute of India’s Covishield vaccine will be commercialised in another 73 days.

“The government has given us a 'special manufacturing priority license' and fast-tracked the trial protocol processes to get the trials completed in 58 days. By this, the first dosing is happening from today in the final phase (Phase III) and the second dosing will happen after 29 days. The final trial data will be out in another 15 days from the second dosing. By that time, we are planning to commercialise Covishield,” said an official representing the Serum Institute of India to Business Today.

The source has also revealed that the central government has already communicated to SII regarding the procurement of the vaccines as the government is planning to immunise Indians for free. Around 68 crore doses for the 130 crore Indian citizens are being sought first. This is likely to be procured by the end of June 2021. The company is planning to manufacture 6 crore doses per month and it also plans on increasing the production to 10 crore by April 2021.

According to the official confirmation, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has agreed to fund SII with Rs.1125 crore to produce the doses. This will reduce the price of each dose to just Rs.250. Previously it was said that each dose will cost Rs.1000.

"We are very confident that a vaccine will be developed by end of this year,” tweeted Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday.

The final stage of clinical trials began at 17 centres with over 1600 volunteers on Saturday, August 22.