Around the world, from Bangladesh to Nepal to Rwanda, vulnerable hotspots have been grappling with stalled Covid-19 vaccination programs as they run out of doses. Many of those shortages can be traced back to a single company: The Serum Institute of India.
The world’s largest vaccine maker, Serum was last year named a top supplier of Covid shots to Covax, the World Health Organization-backed initiative aimed at securing an equitable global rollout. But the Indian company has been dogged by setbacks, from a ban on exports to a factory fire, that have hampered its ability to fill orders.
Covax has pledged to send shots to some 92 countries, but has so far received only 30 million of the minimum 200 million doses it ordered from Serum, which was to provide the bulk of its early supply. Serum’s travails have now become a key illustration of how the effort to inoculate against Covid has failed the developing world and a cautionary tale for becoming over-reliant on one manufacturer
After Pfizer, Serum Institute seeks indemnity over COVID-19 vaccine: Sources ANI | Updated: Jun 03, 2021 10:38 IST
New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): Amid discussions over possible legal protection to foreign vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna over their COVID-19 jabs in India, the Serum Institute of India (SII) has also sought protection against liabilities, sources said on Thursday. Not just Serum Institute of India, all the vaccine companies should get indemnity protection against liabilities if foreign companies are granted the same, sources added.
Earlier last year, SII CEO Adar Poonawala had advocated for indemnity for all vaccine manufacturers. We need to have the government indemnify manufacturers, especially vaccine manufacturers, against all lawsuits. Frivolous claims come up and you see in the media something being blown out of proportion. The government needs to step in with the right messaging, he had said.
New Delhi, June 3
Amid discussions over possible legal protection to foreign vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna over their Covid-19 jabs in India, the Serum Institute of India (SII) has also so
Amid discussions over possible legal protection to foreign vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna over their COVID-19 jabs in India, the SII has also sought protection against liabilities.