All eyes on COVID-19 vaccine — PM Modi holds talks with three more teams involved in developing the vaccine

• PM Modi spoke to Gennova Biopharma, Biological E, and Dr Reddy’s.
• While Gennova Bipharma and Biological E are working on their own vaccines, Dr Reddy's has tied up with Russia to conduct trials of the Sputnik V vaccine.
• He had earlier visited the top three contenders – Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad, and the Serum Institute of India in Pune.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is accelerating COVID-19 vaccine talks with various stakeholders in the country. After visiting the Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech, and Zydus Cadila – the front runners of the COVID-19 vaccine from India, PM Modi interacted with three more stakeholders to understand the progress on the vaccine.

He spoke to Gennova Biopharma, Biological E and Dr Reddy’s today (November 30). While Gennova Bipharma and Biological E are working on their own vaccines, Dr Reddy's has tied up with Russia to conduct trials of the Sputnik V vaccine.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that Modi also asked the companies, represented by these teams, to come out with their suggestions and ideas regarding the regulatory processes and related matters. "The PM advised all the departments concerned to engage with the manufacturers and seek to resolve matters so that the efforts by these companies bear fruit in order to serve the needs of the country and the entire world," it added.

On November 28, Modi went on a three-city tour for an extensive review of the vaccine development and manufacturing process, which involved visits to the top three contenders – Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad, and the Serum Institute of India in Pune.


After Modi’s visit, IANS quoted an SII official to say that the government is hoping for 300-400 million doses of coronavirus vaccine by July 2021. “Presently, we have nothing in writing from the government on how many doses it will buy, but the indication is that the need would be for around 300-400 million doses by July 2021," said Adar Poonawalla, after the Prime Minister’s visit.



Modi’s vaccine visit was praised by many, including opposition leaders of the Congress, who believed that the Prime Minister’s presence would have given a boost to the manufacturers.

Earlier, the Indian government announced a ₹900 crore fund dedicated to the research, and development of COVID-19 vaccine. ““India is waiting for an effective vaccine to come - one or many more. We are spending on research and development apart from what we will give when the vaccine is ready to be bought and distributed. We are also keeping abreast of the developments around the vaccine,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said while announcing the fund.