COVID-19 vaccines: SII to play huge role in mass production
What's the story
British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and US pharmaceutical major Novavax have told lawmakers that they are ready to scale up their production of COVID-19 vaccines in partnership with the Serum Institute of India. Located in the city of Pune in Maharashtra, the SII is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume. It is manufacturing the Covishield vaccine for COVID-19 developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.
Vaccine
AstraZeneca targets supplying 300 million doses to 145 countries
Covishield was granted emergency use listing by WHO this month, allowing it to be supplied to low and middle-income countries. "Together with our partner, the Serum Institute of India, we plan to supply over 300 million doses to 145 countries through COVAX in the first half of 2021 as part of our global and equitable access pledge," Ruud Dobber, President of AstraZeneca's biopharmaceuticals business, said.
Vaccine supply
Majority of supply will go to low, middle-income countries: Dobber
The majority of this supply will go to low and middle-income countries, Dobber told members of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee's oversight and investigations subcommittee during a Congressional hearing on "Pathway to Protection: Expanding Availability of COVID-19 Vaccines" on Tuesday. The purpose of the hearing was to examine manufacturers' ongoing efforts to develop and scale-up production of COVID-19 vaccines in the US.
COVAX
COVAX run by Gavi, WHO in partnership with vaccine manufacturers
The COVAX or COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access program is run by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and WHO in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers. Dobber said, "The company's agreement with the US government covers the development and supply of 300 million vaccine doses, should it receive authorization. The cost of the doses and the dose agreements will provide no profits for AstraZeneca."
Quote
WHO has listed Covishield for emergency use
'Its vaccine has received conditional marketing or emergency authorization in more than 50 countries, and recently, the WHO listed its vaccine for emergency use against COVID-19," Dobber told the lawmakers.
Risk reduction
Hospitalization risk reduced considerably after first dose of Covishield
"Studies conducted today indicated our vaccine is effective. And just this week, we were encouraged to see the first real-world evidence from over 5.4 million subjects in Scotland demonstrating a risk in the reduction of COVID-19 related hospitalizations by 94 percent after the first dose," Dobber asserted. John Trizzino, Executive Vice President of Novavax, also gave a similar assurance to Congressional Committee members.
Information
Covishield less expensive than other vaccines
Covishield is less expensive compared to some of the other vaccines being used such as the ones from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. It doesn't need to be stored in ultra-low temperatures, which makes it suitable for use in many developing countries that lack necessary storage infrastructure.
Novavax
Novavax can produce two billion doses a year: Trizzino
Trizzino said, "Once all of its capacity comes online globally, which it expects to happen in the mid-point of 2021, Novavax will have a global capacity to produce two billion doses per year, 150 million doses per month." "This includes all of our partners, including SII. We will work with government leaders to ensure that those who need a vaccine get it," he said.
Trizzino's statement
Novavax is committed to reasonable pricing, equitable distribution and allocation
Trizzino said, "Novavax is committed to reasonable pricing, equitable distribution and allocation, and expansive access worldwide, which is what will be required to fully control the pandemic." "To that end, we have a built a strong partnership with the Serum Institute of India whereby they will deliver significant numbers of vaccine doses to low and middle-income countries throughout the world," he said.