New Delhi: With an order that is not enough for the Covishield of the CEO of the Central Institute of India (SII) Adar Poonawalla on Tuesday that the company is looking at cutting monthly vaccine production of at least 50 percent.
SII has written to the government to seek clarity about his needs, if any, for two normal doses for people who qualify in this country and also at the booster dose.
“I’m actually in the dilemma that I have never imagined … We produce 250 million doses a month but the good news is that India has covered most of its population and we will complete all our orders to the Ministry of Health within a week,” said Poonawalla in an interview to CNBC-TV18.
In his future production strategy, the SII CEO said that because there was no other command in the hand so I would reduce production at least 50 percent to start … every month until the order returned well in India or the world “.
Indicates that the export of covishield is also slow at this time, he said export orders will be taken in the next quarter.
“For eight months when we cannot export, other countries manage vaccine equipment from contributions from the US and elsewhere and we have lost a lot of market share,” he said, however, added that he would now try to catch him. Request back in the first quarter of next year.
Initially, it would be slow but would take even though it would never be tone may need 250 million doses a month unless there were requirements from the central government, said Poonawalla.
“If they need more vaccines for a booster dose, we have written to them (the central government). Now it’s their decision about the Booster policy if they will be more and hoarded before the next surge occurs, if it comes. We are waiting for their instructions, “He added.
He further said: “We must remember that we do not need a situation like last year where suddenly the country needs hundreds of millions of doses, it will not be possible if we call our production. So that’s why we have explained this to the government and Experts to notify us now. If you need more doses for booster, we can produce more. Give us the guide. The discussion is at this time. “
Poonawalla said the main vaccine currently has a stock of 500 million doses. “Half of it is finished products and half can be completed in a matter of two months and have the shelf life of nine months, so we have to decide what to do with stock. It’s available in priority to India and if not, we will start exporting more than A quarter of 2022, “he said.
Poonawalla said the government had been told and the company would wait a few days for them to return before deciding the next action.
