Pune: Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla gave a thumbs up to the ₹35,000 crore allocated for COVID-19 vaccination by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2021.
“We welcome Finance Minister’s emphasis on healthcare spending and immunization especially for COVID-19 and the pneumococcal vaccines as this will help India recover rapidly from this pandemic,” said Poonawalla.
“…this is the best investment any country can make. A healthier India is a more productive India,” he added in a tweet.
“Health and well-being have formed the topmost priority of the Union Government during the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. It is the foremost of the six crucial pillars that form foundation of the Union Budget,” Sitharaman said while announcing the budget.
“I have provided ₹35,000 crores for COVID-19 vaccine in BE 2021-22. I am committed to provide further funds if required,” she added.
Serum Institute is currently manufacturing the Covishield vaccine that has been developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. It is in talks with US Phrama company Novavax to make its vaccines here.
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