Pune: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), which has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, on Saturday.
“We have received a confirmation about PM Modi’s visit to the Serum Institute of India on Saturday, but his minute-to -minute program is yet to be received,” Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao was quoted as saying by PTI.
The PM is likely to review the vaccine candidate’s status pertaining to its possible launch, production and distribution mechanisms, Rao said.
The Central Drug Standard Control Organisation has granted permission for the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine for pre-clinical test, examination and analysis to seven firms, including the SII and Gennova Biopharmaceuticals in Pune.