India May Release Huge Volumes Of COVID-19 Vaccine By 2021: Bill Gates

Washington: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Tuesday said that India is a leading vaccine producer and may release huge volumes of COVID-19 vaccine by 2021.

According to a PTI report, Gates also said that India is playing an important role in manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines, and the world needs cooperation from it.

“All of us want to get a vaccine out in India as fast as we can, once we know that it’s very effective and very safe. It’s very likely that roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine will take place in fairly big volume (in India) sometime next year,” Gates told PTI.

“India’s willingness to play a big role in manufacturing vaccines, send some of these to developing countries will be critical,” he added.

According to ICMR DG Prof (Dr.) Balram Bhargava, three vaccines are in clinical trial stage in India. Cadila and Bharat Biotech have completed phase-I trials. Serum Institute has completed Phase II-B3 trials, and will start phase-III trial (with 1500 patients at 14 locations) after clearances, he added.