The Serum Institute of India has informed the Maharashtra government that it will not be able to provide Covishield vaccines to them until...
The Serum Institute of India has informed the Maharashtra government that it will not be able to provide Covishield vaccines to them until May 26, The Indian Express reported on Friday, quoting Health Minister Rajesh Tope.
“Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had a telephone conversation with the Serum chief in London on the issue and was informed that they could not give the doses till May 26,” Tope said, referring to Adar Poonawalla, who had left the country earlier this month after he claimed that he was being threatened in order to secure vaccines.
The minister said that Maharashtra was ready to purchase a big consignment of doses from from the manufacturer as the state had the capability of vaccinating across 5,000 to 7,000 centres and at least 8 lakh to 10 lakh doses daily. But the Serum Institute chief expressed his inability to provide the doses, Tope said.
He said the pace of vaccination in Maharashtra had been slow because there are limited doses available.
The health official also flagged shortages of Covaxin, the other vaccine being used in India, which is produced by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech. Tope said about four to five lakh beneficiaries, who received Covaxin, had been waiting for their second dose but stocks were not being made available...
