India authorities will be reviewing all the firms engaged in vaccine development before signing any final purchase deals, as per an official.
The government will be initially purchasing vaccines for essential workers including doctors and medical professionals and all those who are working in related fields as they face the highest risk of exposure.
The development comes after CEO of Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla tweeted saying that the Indian government would require to come up with Rs 80,000 crore over the next one year to buy and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to everyone in India.
Adar Poonawalla’s tweet is an awakening of sorts of the next challenge that the government has in store. It comes as nations across the world are planning their strategies to procure COVID-19 vaccine doses when they are ready.
I ask this question, because we need to plan and guide, vaccine manufacturers both in India and overseas to service the needs of our country in terms of procurement and distribution.
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) September 26, 2020
The tweet for the first time throws light on the first real challenge after a potential COVID-19 vaccine is ready for distribution after obtaining all the required approvals. It comes as several vaccines enter their last stage of trials.
How does the Indian government plan to procure COVID-19 vaccine doses for all citizens of India?
The centre has yet not revealed any such plan of procuring COVID-19 vaccine doses for all citizens from the firms that are manufacturing them. Currently, four COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in the later stages of trial within India.
Can the Indian government secure Rs 80,000 crore in one year?
• From what we know so far, the Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech, Biological E and Zydus Cadila have invested their own capital up till now to begin the COVID-19 Vaccine trial.
• The Serum Institute of India had acquired USD150 million, which is about Rs 1,100 crore, in the form of grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to manufacture vaccines for low- and center-earnings nations.
• The Serum Institute has a tie-up with Swedish-UK drug maker AstraZeneca and US vaccine maker Novavax. The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has entered last phase trials in UK and India. However, its trials continue to be on hold in the US.
• Biological E that has a tie-up with Johnson & Johnson is also likely to get a grant from the Gates Foundation.
What about the COVAX facility?
Under the COVAX facility, vaccines may be offered at USD 3 per dose. The COVAX facility is a joint effort of WHO, Gavi Alliance and CEPI to ensure equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. India is in talks to join the COVAX facility.
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