Naveen Seeks Serum Institute CEO’s Cooperation For Early COVID Vaccination In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday spoke to Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla over a video call and discussed the progress of COVID vaccine.

Naveen expressed happiness that the Serum Institute had partnered with Oxford University to develop COVID vaccine. He also congratulated him for the recent promising results published in The Lancet on COVID vaccine.

The Chief Minister sought his cooperation to keep Odisha as a priority for vaccination once necessary clearances are obtained, a CMO press release said.

He said that the Odisha government will be in touch with the Serum Institute for this purpose.

The Chief Minister also applauded the philanthropic activities carried out by Poonawalla and the foresight in tying up with various research institutions across the globe to develop a vaccine for COVID.

Poonawalla appreciated the CM for getting in touch with the Serum Institute to know about the progress of vaccine and the results published in the Lancet.

He said that Oxford University vaccine has shown promising results in the first phase trial. In India, the next phase trial will start in mid-August and the vaccine will be ready by October-November this year, he added.

He further said the Serum Institute and the state government can be in touch with each other and carry forward the collaboration once the vaccines are cleared and ready, the release added.

Among others, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, Chief Advisor to CMO R Balakrishnan, ACS Health P K Mohapatra and Secretary to CM (5-T) VK Pandian were present.