Good News: Serum Institute Manufactures First Batch Of Covavax Vaccine

Picture courtesy The Indian Express

Pune: The Serum Institute of India (SII) announced on Friday that his company has manufactured the first batch of the Covavax COVID-19 vaccine, which has been developed by US-based biotechnology company Novavax.

“Excited to witness the first batch of Covavax (developed by @Novavax) being manufactured this week at our facility in Pune. The vaccine has great potential to protect our future generations below the age of 18. Trials are ongoing. Well done team @seruminstindia!” Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted on Friday.

Covavax has shown an impressive 96.4% efficacy against the original strain of coronavirus and 93% effectiveness against variants of concern in trials. With Serum Institute joining hands with the American company as manufacturing partner, India has emerged as a major destination for its vaccine.

The SII had earlier said that it will introduce the Covavax in the country by September, and that clinical trials for children will start next month.

NITI Aayog member (Health) VK Paul said last week that SII making the vaccine in India makes Covavax relevant to India’s vaccination plans.

India rolled out its vaccination programme on January 16 with the Bharat Biotech’s indigenously-developed Covaxin and SII-manufactured Covishield, which has been developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca.

Russia’s Sputnik V is the third vaccine to be used in the country. It may not be long before Covavax is approved for use in India.