India leads in securing 1.6 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses

<p>
India has secured the highest number of Covid-19 vaccine doses in the world at 1.6 billion doses, according to Duke University's global health innovation centre. Estimates suggest that India requires 1.7 billion doses.</p>
<p>
The European Union has secured 1.58 billion doses while the US has about 1.01 billion doses, the Duke University estimates revealed. India has secured one billion Novavax vaccine doses and half a million from Oxford-AstraZeneca. Besides, Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute will be providing 10 million Sputnik-V doses. Novavax Inc and UK pharma giant AstraZeneca have entered into an agreement with the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) for production, development and supply of the vaccines which has given India an edge.</p>
<p>
PM Modi rings Covid-19 vaccine with Aatmanirbhar Bharat doctrine</a></strong> Earlier, Adar Poonawalla, SII’s chief executive officer said that his company has “built significant capability in vaccine manufacturing and supply globally” and that SII will work to ensure fair and equitable distribution of the vaccine. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund has tied up with India's Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories to conduct the clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine in India.</p>
<p>
“We should be able to start administering the vaccines before the financial year ends on March 31, 2021. This is a big relief and the development will have an overall impact on sentiments and business cycles,” a senior official familiar with the development told IndiaNarrative.com. A distribution plan is being put in place. The official added that the vaccines are safe and have been developed based on earlier findings of other virus-led diseases.</p>
<p>
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, pharma major Pfizer launched its Covid vaccine after getting the required approvals from the UK. The vaccine will be rolled out by early next week. The Pfizer vaccine may not be available to India. According to NDTV, “for a vaccine to be allowed in India it must clear clinical trials here.” The news organisation in its report said quoting sources that neither Pfizer nor its partner companies had asked to hold such trials.</p>
<p>
Until now, India has registered over 95,36,000 Covid 19 cases. However the recovery rate has been higher than any other country. A total of over 89,73,000 people affected with the virus have recovered. Importantly, India, though witnessed a surge in numbers around August-September, it was restricted to a few states, which turned into hotspots and did not touch the rural areas as was feared earlier. World over the number of cases stands at over 64,866,200 cases as of November 3. As many as 1,499,690 people have died globally due to the virus.</p>