Vaccine exports to all countries permitted, says Serum CEO

Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla took to Twitter on Tuesday to clarify that export of vaccines to all countries are permitted after news broke yesterday of the govt disallowing the export of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine Covishield for several months.

He added that a statement regarding the miscommunication would be issued soon.

Poonawalla had earlier said that Covishield’s emergency use approval was granted on the condition that the company does not export the shots to ensure enough stockpile for India.

On Sunday, India’s drugs regulator gave an emergency authorisation for the vaccines developed by Oxford University and UK-based drugmaker AstraZeneca and another developed by the Indian company Bharat Biotech.

Drugs Controller General Dr Venugopal G Somani said that both vaccines will be administered in two dosages.

On the same day, the head of Serum Institute of India announced that India will not allow the export of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for several months.

(Source: Economic Times)