Serum Institute has not contracted its production of COVID-19 vaccine to Centre till May 25: Health ministry

April 23, 2021

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday quashed media reports suggesting that Serum Institute of India (SII) has contracted all its production till May 25 to Centre and that state governments won’t be able to procure vaccine till that date. These reports are based on incorrect facts and are without any basis.
State governments are free to procure COVID-19 vaccine doses from the vaccine manufacturers as per the Liberalised Pricing and Accelerated National COVID-19 vaccination strategy, the ministry said.
On Wednesday, the Centre also announced that the production capacity of Remdesivir injections is being ramped up.
“All support is being extended to manufacturers by the government in this endeavour. The production capacity is being ramped up from current level of 38 lakh vials per month to 74 lakh vials per month, and 20 additional manufacturing sites have been approved. Export of Remdesivir has also been prohibited on 11th April in order to shore up domestic supplies,” the ministry said.
Earlier, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee pointedd out that Covishield is priced at Rs 150 for the Centre, Rs 400 for states and Rs 600 for private hospitals. “Is it a joke? Why is that one vaccine is being sold at different rates? Vaccines should not be commercialised.”

“The Centre has a lot of money in PM Cares Fund but it wouldn’t provide vaccines free of cost. Why couldn’t they (central leaders) do the needful all these months?”
Alleging that “this COVID-19 rage was Modi’s contribution” to the country, she said, “So far, you (PM) have done nothing, you did not alert people or take necessary precautions when there was time. Now, amid the rise in cases, you are asking people to buy doses and get vaccinated!”