<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink">Global Trends Festival</a> is one of the world's most prestigious events which will be live from Oct 19-23.</li><li>While nobel laureates, some of the biggest political and corporate icons will provide thought leadership, it's a great platform to network with CXOs from around the world.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink">Global Trends Festival 2020</a> is presented by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink"></a><a href="https://aws.amazon.com/" data-type="tilCustomLink">AWS</a>.</li><li>Get your tickets now from <a href="https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/business-insider-global-trends-festival/ET00137578" data-type="tilCustomLink">BookMyShow</a>.</li></ul> A young chartered accountant from London had a plum job with Chase Manhattan when his charismatic uncle HT Parekh who was starting a new mortgage company which provides housing loans to middle class Indians. Back in the late 70s, it was almost impossible for salaried Indians to take home loans, which are now available before ‘coffee gets cold’. The Parekhs had taken what was considered impossible and turned the business of housing loans into a profitable business, but also opened up new vistas for the real estate sector. Ever since Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) has turned into an institution which spun off a bank in 1994, one that is today the country’s biggest private bank. HDFC itself ventured into various businesses like insurance, asset management, mutual funds and in each of the businesses that they’re in, they’re amongst the top few. It’s 75-year old Chairman Deepak Parekh is a doyen of the country’s financial industry and earned himself the reputation of ‘trouble shooter’ in chief. Mumbai’s financial community can’t be tired of narrating legends about his role in the efforts to save and revive scam-tainted companies like Satyam Computers and UTI. Best amongst equals In Parekh’s own words, every business that he gets into, he wishes to be amongst the top three institutions or not be in it at all. He chose both organic and inorganic routes to achieve this. As India battles the pandemic, Parekh is one of the few voices that provide a ray of hope. In an interview with Shekhar <a href="https://theprint.in/theprint-otc/indian-economy-will-be-booming-by-next-august-worst-behind-us-hdfc-chairman-deepak-parekh/474497/">Gupta of the Print</a>, he said that India would see positive growth by next year. He also believes that India will do better than limp back to its pre-Covid days - which was slow even back then. He is also on the board of several leading corporations across diverse sectors. He is the non-executive chairman in India of Siemens Ltd. He is also on the board of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). It will also be worth noting how he sees this recovery playing out, and what India needs to do to recover from the current trough. Join us at the <a href="https://trendsfestival.in/" data-type="tilCustomLink">Global Trends Festival 2020</a> between October 19-23 from wherever you are. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/india-has-its-eyes-and-hopes-pinned-on-adar-poonawalla-the-worlds-biggest-vaccine-maker-who-will-be-at-gtf-2020/articleshow/77977949.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">India has its eyes and hopes pinned on Adar Poonawalla⁠⁠— the world’s biggest vaccine maker who will be speaking at the Global Trends Festival 2020</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/meet-vani-kola-managing-director-kalaari-capital-the-unicorn-hunter-at-global-trends-festival-2020/articleshow/77999658.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Meet Vani Kola, the unicorn hunter, at Global Trends Festival 2020</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/reed-hastings-to-speak-at-the-business-insider-global-trends-festival/articleshow/77550576.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Reed Hastings to speak at the Business Insider Global Trends Festival</a>

Deepak Parekh, a legend from India’s financial capital, must be on your watchlist at Global Trends Festival 2020

<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink">Global Trends Festival</a> is one of the world's most prestigious events which will be live from Oct 19-23.</li><li>While nobel laureates, some of the biggest political and corporate icons will provide thought leadership, it's a great platform to network with CXOs from around the world.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink">Global Trends Festival 2020</a> is presented by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink"></a><a href="https://aws.amazon.com/" data-type="tilCustomLink">AWS</a>.</li><li>Get your tickets now from <a href="https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/business-insider-global-trends-festival/ET00137578" data-type="tilCustomLink">BookMyShow</a>.</li></ul> Scaling new heights comes easily for serial entrepreneur Vani Kola. After all, she had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro a decade back. However, she is better known for her penchant to start, grow and sell companies in the Silicon Valley. What got this middle-class engineering graduate from Hyderabad to make a mark in Silicon Valley is pure grit and determination. As the founder of RightWorks, a web enterprise computing company in the 90s, she sent her pitches to Fortune 500 CEOs on a <a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/2000/jan/22us1.htm">large sized cardboard</a>. It’s too big to throw away and impossible to crumble! She later sold the company for a whopping $657 million in 2000, and repeated the same success story with yet another company she founded, Certus Software. In 2006, Kola made a life-changing decision to come back to India. It was tough since she has been living there for 22 years with her husband Srinivas Kola with whom she travelled to the US for masters degree, and two daughters. But Kola who is now based out of Bangalore, during a visit to India and saw ‘how much’ it had changed since she left it. A cab ride that brought her back home The epiphany came when she was taking a cab ride. Her cabbie told her that he is planning to take his family to Bangkok for a holiday, which shocked her. “I have never heard my own father (who is an accountant) say that he has been working hard and needs a vacation,” she said in an <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/meet-venture-capital-pioneer-vani-kola-115030500583_1.html">interview to Business Standard</a>. After looking at how consumer behaviour was changing and that India was ripe for innovation, she set up Indo-US Venture Partners in 2006 with yet another serial entrepreneur Vinod Dham and former head of Intel India Kumar Shiralgi. The venture went through management changes to be rebranded in 2011 as Kalaari Capital, named after Kerala-based ancient martial art form Kalaripayat. Breaking the boy’s club Since inception, Kalaari Capital has invested in many e-commerce firms like Snapdeal, Myntra and Urban Ladder. Among her top investments are YourStory, Dream11 and Curefit. Among her top investments and exits is one of India’s first online lingerie stores, Zivame. In the founder of the startup, Richa <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/meet-venture-capital-pioneer-vani-kola-115030500583_1.html">Kar’s own words</a>, Kola had grasped the concept in half an hour. With others, it would have taken two weeks across many meetings. It also helped that Kola was one of those rare women in the boy’s club of venture capitalists, and she was the first that Kar came across. Even now, the number of women who seek investments from Kalaari are a mere two percent of the total number. Yet, Kola believes things will change. In the 1980s, she was part of another boys club, called engineering. She was amongst one of the six girls in a batch of 400! Now the ratios are much well balanced and these women, she hopes will become CEOs, investment bankers and also venture capitalists and the so-called boys club will not remain so anymore. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/india-has-its-eyes-and-hopes-pinned-on-adar-poonawalla-the-worlds-biggest-vaccine-maker-who-will-be-at-gtf-2020/articleshow/77977949.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">India has its eyes and hopes pinned on Adar Poonawalla⁠⁠— the world’s biggest vaccine maker who will be speaking at the Global Trends Festival 2020</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/the-leadership-from-asia-and-india-in-particular-will-be-at-the-heart-of-global-trends-festival-2020/articleshow/77971081.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">The leadership from Asia, and India in particular, will be at the heart of Global Trends Festival 2020</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/largest-global-event-in-2020-trends-festival/articleshow/77461047.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Business Insider's Global Trends Festival is coming to India — and it's gonna be huge!</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/reed-hastings-to-speak-at-the-business-insider-global-trends-festival/articleshow/77550576.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Reed Hastings to speak at the Business Insider Global Trends Festival</a>

Meet Vani Kola, the unicorn hunter, at Global Trends Festival 2020

A further collaboration among the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, Gavi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will accelerate the manufacture and delivery of up to 100 million doses of safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines for India and low-and middle income countries. This brings the total number of vaccine doses to be covered by the partnership between SII, Gavi, and <keyword id="3219739" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Gates-Foundation">the Gates Foundation</keyword> to an aggregate of up to 200 million doses, following the initial agreement for up to 100 million doses announced in August. The arrangement again provides an option to secure additional doses if the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator sees a need for it. The collaboration will provide upfront capital to SII to help it increase manufacturing capacity now so that, once a vaccine, or vaccines, gains regulatory approval and WHO Prequalification, doses can be distributed at scale to LMICs as part of <keyword id="10021049" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-gavi-covax-amc">the Gavi COVAX AMC</keyword> mechanism as early as the first half of 2021. "The collaboration further bolsters our fight against Covid-19. Through the avid support of Gavi and the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, we will now manufacture and deliver up to an additional 100 million doses of immunogenic and safe-proven future Covid-19 vaccines to India and low- and middle-income countries in 2021," said Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India. He added, "At this stage, it is important for governments, <keyword id="758352" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-health">global health</keyword> and financial institutions in the public and private sector to come together in ensuring that no one is left behind in the road to recovery. This association is in line with our efforts to see that the future vaccines reach the remotest part of the world providing full immunization coverage in a bid to contain the spread of the pandemic." The funding will help accelerate the manufacturing by SII for candidate vaccines licensed from <keyword id="6409874" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="astrazeneca">AstraZeneca</keyword> and Novavax, which will be available for procurement if they are successful in attaining full licensure and WHO Prequalification. The vaccines will have a ceiling price of US$3 per dose, a price enabled by investments made by partners such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and SII. "This is vaccine manufacturing for <keyword id="10021050" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-global-south">the Global South</keyword>, by the Global South, helping us to ensure no country is left behind when it comes to access to a Covid-19 vaccine," said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. "The momentum behind our effort to ensure global, equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines is really building. Last week, we were able to announce the historic number of countries that are now signed up to the COVAX Facility, today we can announce further doses of safe, effective vaccines that will be reserved specifically for low- and middle-income countries. No country, rich or poor, should be left at the back of the queue when it comes to Covid-19 vaccines; this collaboration brings us another step closer to achieving this goal." The Gavi COVAX AMC, which is currently seeking at least US$2 billion in initial seed funding, will meet at least part of the cost of procurement for the vaccine doses. The Gavi Board has agreed upon the final list of 92 countries that will be supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC. Under the new collaboration, AstraZeneca's candidate vaccine, if successful, will be available to 61 Gavi-eligible countries. Novavax's candidate, if successful, will be available to all 92 countries supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC. These countries align with SII's licensing agreements with the two partners. The collaboration between Gavi, SII, and the Gates Foundation supports the efforts of the ACT Accelerator's vaccines pillar, also known as COVAX, co-led by Gavi, CEPI and the World Health Organization (WHO), to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure rapid, global access to them. Decisions around investment in manufacturing are taken in close collaboration between these three lead organisations of the COVAX pillar. Under the COVAX umbrella, Gavi is coordinating the COVAX Facility, which provides governments with the opportunity to benefit from a large portfolio of Covid-19 candidate vaccines using a range of technology platforms, produced by more manufacturers across the world, with a bigger market to provide security of demand. So far 73 higher-income economies have formally committed to join the Facility, in addition to the 92 low- and middle-income economies that are eligible for support from the Gavi COVAX AMC. The Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, via its Strategic Investment Fund, will provide at-risk funding of a further US$150 million to Gavi, bringing the total funding provided through this collaboration to US$300 million. This will be used to support the Serum Institute of India to manufacture potential vaccine candidates, and for future procurement of vaccines for India and low- and middle-income countries via Gavi's COVAX AMC. The deal is additional to a Memorandum of Understanding between AstraZeneca and Gavi, announced in June, which will commit an additional 300 million doses of AstraZeneca's candidate vaccine to the wider COVAX Facility, to be supplied upon licensure or prequalification. These two deals can help assure access to early doses for the most vulnerable on a truly global scale. <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/icmr-now-flags-chances-of-chinese-cat-que-virus-in-india/articleshow/78381490.cms">ICMR now flags chances of Chinese 'Cat Que Virus' in India</a>

Serum Institute to manufacture 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) A further collaboration among the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, Gavi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will accelerate the manufacture and delivery of up to 100 million doses of safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines for India and low-and middle income countries. This brings the total number of vaccine doses to be covered by the partnership between SII, Gavi, and the Gates Foundation to an aggregate of up to 200 million doses, following the initial agreement for up to 100 million doses announced in August. The arrangement again provides an option to secure additional doses if the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator sees a need for it. The collaboration will provide upfront capital to SII to help it increase manufacturing capacity now so that, once a vaccine, or vaccines, gains regulatory approval and WHO Prequalification, doses can be distributed at scale to LMICs as part of the Gavi COVAX AMC mechanism as early as the first half of 2021. "The collaboration further bolsters our fight against Covid-19. Through the avid support of Gavi and the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, we will now manufacture and deliver up to an additional 100 million doses of immunogenic and safe-proven future Covid-19 vaccines to India and low- and middle-income countries in 2021," said Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India. He added, "At this stage, it is important for governments, global health and financial institutions in the public and private sector to come together in ensuring that no one is left behind in the road to recovery. This association is in line with our efforts to see that the future vaccines reach the remotest part of the world providing full immunization coverage in a bid to contain the spread of the pandemic." The funding will help accelerate the manufacturing by SII for candidate vaccines licensed from AstraZeneca and Novavax, which will be available for procurement if they are successful in attaining full licensure and WHO Prequalification. The vaccines will have a ceiling price of US$3 per dose, a price enabled by investments made by partners such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and SII. "This is vaccine manufacturing for the Global South, by the Global South, helping us to ensure no country is left behind when it comes to access to a Covid-19 vaccine," said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. "The momentum behind our effort to ensure global, equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines is really building. Last week, we were able to announce the historic number of countries that are now signed up to the COVAX Facility, today we can announce further doses of safe, effective vaccines that will be reserved specifically for low- and middle-income countries. No country, rich or poor, should be left at the back of the queue when it comes to Covid-19 vaccines; this collaboration brings us another step closer to achieving this goal." The Gavi COVAX AMC, which is currently seeking at least US$2 billion in initial seed funding, will meet at least part of the cost of procurement for the vaccine doses. The Gavi Board has agreed upon the final list of 92 countries that will be supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC. Under the new collaboration, AstraZeneca's candidate vaccine, if successful, will be available to 61 Gavi-eligible countries. Novavax's candidate, if successful, will be available to all 92 countries supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC. These countries align with SII's licensing agreements with the two partners. The collaboration between Gavi, SII, and the Gates Foundation supports the efforts of the ACT Accelerator's vaccines pillar, also known as COVAX, co-led by Gavi, CEPI and the World Health Organization (WHO), to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure rapid, global access to them. Decisions around investment in manufacturing are taken in close collaboration between these three lead organisations of the COVAX pillar. Under the COVAX umbrella, Gavi is coordinating the COVAX Facility, which provides governments with the opportunity to benefit from a large portfolio of Covid-19 candidate vaccines using a range of technology platforms, produced by more manufacturers across the world, with a bigger market to provide security of demand. So far 73 higher-income economies have formally committed to join the Facility, in addition to the 92 low- and middle-income economies that are eligible for support from the Gavi COVAX AMC. The Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, via its Strategic Investment Fund, will provide at-risk funding of a further US$150 million to Gavi, bringing the total funding provided through this collaboration to US$300 million. This will be used to support the Serum Institute of India to manufacture potential vaccine candidates, and for future procurement of vaccines for India and low- and middle-income countries via Gavi's COVAX AMC. The deal is additional to a Memorandum of Understanding between AstraZeneca and Gavi, announced in June, which will commit an additional 300 million doses of AstraZeneca's candidate vaccine to the wider COVAX Facility, to be supplied upon licensure or prequalification. These two deals can help assure access to early doses for the most vulnerable on a truly global scale. --IANS aka/dpb

Serum Institute to manufacture 200mn doses of Covid-19 vaccine

<ul><li><keyword id="95879" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute-of-India">Serum Institute of India</keyword> (SII) to accelerate the manufacture and delivery of up to 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for India and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).</li><li>The collaboration will provide upfront capital to SII to help them increase manufacturing capacity now so that, once a vaccine, or vaccines, gains regulatory approval and WHO prequalification, doses can be produced at scale for distribution to India and LMIC as part of the Gavi COVAX AMC mechanism as early as the first half of 2021.</li><li>The funding will support at-risk manufacturing by SII for candidate vaccines from AstraZeneca and Novavax, which will be available for procurement if they are successful in attaining full licensure and WHO Prequalification.</li></ul> Serum Institute of India (SII), the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, has entered into a new landmark partnership with Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance and the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, to accelerate the manufacture and delivery of up to 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for India and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The collaboration will provide upfront capital to SII to help them increase manufacturing capacity now so that, once a vaccine, or vaccines, gains regulatory approval and WHO prequalification, doses can be produced at scale for distribution to India and LMIC as part of the Gavi COVAX AMC mechanism as early as the first half of 2021. The funding will support at-risk manufacturing by SII for candidate vaccines from AstraZeneca and Novavax, which will be available for procurement if they are successful in attaining full licensure and WHO Prequalification. SII has set an affordable ceiling price of $3 per dose. The arrangement also provides an option to secure additional doses if the vaccines pillar of the ACT Accelerator sees a need for it. "In an attempt to make our fight against COVID-19 stronger and all-embracing; SII has partnered with Gavi and the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation to advance the manufacturing and delivery of up to 100 million doses of future COVID vaccines for India and low and middle income countries in 2021," said Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India. "The rampant spread of the virus has rendered the entire world in an unimaginable halt of uncertainty. And to ensure maximum immunization coverage and contain the pandemic, it is important to make sure that the most remote and poorest countries of the world have access to affordable cure and preventive measures. Through this association, we seek to ramp up our constant efforts to save the lives of millions of people from this dreadful disease." SII shares a long history of successful partnerships with Gavi and pharmaceutical companies to manufacture vaccines that protect against meningitis, severe diarrhoea, pneumonia and measles. This collaboration further underscores India's proven-track record in developing safe and quality vaccines. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology said, "India has a proven track record of manufacturing safe and cost-effective vaccines not only for India, but for the world. Over the last decade, Government of India has encouraged innovation, and supported the Indian vaccine industry to manufacture high quality, affordable indigenous tools and products to benefit India and the world. We are very happy to see SII enter this global partnership to respond to the global health crisis posed by Covid-19." Balram Bhargava, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), commented, "India's has demonstrated consistent capability in delivering on low-cost and high-quality medical research, while also maintaining technical and scientific rigour. ICMR is deeply supportive of our cutting edge vaccine research and manufacturing prowess, of which SII is one prominent example. This partnership signifies yet another step in India's efforts to bolster the fight against this global pandemic." The Gavi Covax AMC, which is currently seeking at least US$ 2 billion in initial seed funding, will meet at least part of the cost of procurement for the vaccine doses. Last week the Gavi Board agreed the final list of 92 countries that will be supported by the AMC. Under the new collaboration, AstraZeneca's candidate vaccine, if successful, will be available to 57 Gavi-eligible countries. Novavax's candidate, if successful, will be available to all 92 countries supported by the AMC The collaboration between Gavi, SII, and the Gates Foundation supports the efforts of the ACT Accelerator's vaccines pillar, also known as COVAX, co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO), to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure rapid, global access to them. Decisions around investment in manufacturing are taken in close collaboration between these three lead organisations of the COVAX pillar. Under the COVAX umbrella, Gavi is leading the COVAX Facility, which provides governments with the opportunity to benefit from a large portfolio of COVID-19 candidate vaccines using a range of technology platforms, produced by more manufacturers across the world, with a bigger market to provide security of demand. The Facility is reinforced by the AMC which provides funding for vaccines for lower income countries. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-beirut-explosion-created-a-huge-mushroom-cloud-and-visible-blast-wave-but-nuclear-weapons-experts-say-it-wasnt-an-atomic-blast-heres-why-/articleshow/77362144.cms">The Beirut explosion created a huge mushroom cloud and visible blast wave, but nuclear weapons experts say it wasn't an atomic bomb. Here's why.</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/microsoft-for-startups-lathika-pai-says-entrepreneurs-pitching-for-investments-need-to-have-this-one-question-answered-in-their-pitch-decks/articleshow/77352935.cms">Microsoft for Startups’ Lathika Pai says entrepreneurs pitching for investments need to have this one question answered in their pitch decks</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/linkedin-tcs-disney-hotstar-zee-and-other-companies-hiring-right-now-in-india/slidelist/77352775.cms">LinkedIn, TCS, Disney+ Hotstar, Zee and other companies hiring right now in India</a>

Serum Institute of India to produce 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for less than ₹250 a dose

<ul><li>President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the importance of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. </li><li><keyword id="2238662" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-Modi">PM Modi</keyword> said, “National Education Policy 2020 will equip youth with both knowledge &amp; skills, to prepare them for needs of the future.” </li><li>Both PM Modi and President Kovind urged all the governors to conduct more webinars to raise awareness about the New Education Policy. </li></ul>President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the importance of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 during the inaugural session of the Governors' Conference. Both PM Modi and President Kovind urged all the governors to conduct more webinars to inform people about the New Education Policy. Here are the highlights from PM Modi's speech: <ul><li>National education policy is not just for changing the way of education. This is going to give a new direction to the social and economic aspect of 21st century India. It is shaping the resolve and strength of self-reliant India.</li><li>Education policy and education system is a main medium for fulfilling the nation's aspirations</li><li>Central and state governments, local bodies, all are attached to the responsibility of the education system. But it is also true that the government's interference in education policy should be minimal.</li><li>Millions of people of the country, living in the city and the village, people related to the education sector, gave their feedback for National Education Policy .</li><li>Today the world is discussing the transforming nature of the job. National Education Policy 2020 will equip youth with both knowledge &amp; skills, to prepare them for needs of the future.</li><li>We have discussed thoroughly bridging the gap that the education section has witnessed over the years.</li><li>Vocational exposure at a young age will help people prepare for better. It will also increase youth’s employability.</li><li>Students today can study according to their aptitude. Earlier, students used to choose to stream out of their aptitude under pressure.</li><li>We have to showcase maximum flexibility while implementing the policy.</li><li>This is not the government's education policy, this is India’s policy. It is not bound with any government rather it is attached with the aspirations of the country.</li><li>Our responsibility is to promote technological solutions at every university and college.</li><li>We will encourage healthy competition among universities using this policy and will also reward institutions.</li><li>I urge you to conduct as many virtual conferences about NEP before to aware people.</li></ul>Here are the highlights from President Kovind's speech: <ul><li>The National Education Policy has been formulated after an unprecedented and lengthy process of consultations. </li><li>I am told that in the formulation of this policy, more than 2,02,500 lakh gram panchayats, more than 2,500 local bodies and more than two lakh suggestions received from about 675 districts have been taken into consideration.</li><li>The National Education Policy will be able to take the people, especially the youth, in accordance with the needs and aspirations of the twenty-first century.</li><li>It is not only a policy document, but a reflection of the aspirations of the learners and citizens of India.</li><li>From the 1968 education policy to this education policy, it has been made clear in one voice that the central and state governments should jointly aim for 6% investment of GDP in the field of public education. This education policy of 2020 recommends reaching this goal quickly.</li><li>It has been emphasized in the new education policy that we all have to develop a modern education system based on Indian life-values. At the same time, we have to try that everyone should get education with high quality and a vibrant and equal knowledge society should be created.</li><li>Through education, we have to create such students who are filled with national pride as well as a sense of world welfare and can become a global citizen in the true sense.</li><li>Teachers will have a central role in the fundamental changes being made in the education system. It has been made clear in this education policy that the most promising people in the teaching profession should be selected and their livelihood, dignity and autonomy should be ensured.</li><li>In this context, there is a provision for starting educationally sound, multi-disciplinary and integrated teachers education programs. By the year 2030, only high-level institutions will remain active in this area.</li><li>The goal is to create a new and comprehensive curriculum of teachers education, based on this education policy, by 2021, to give a strong foundation to school education. Teacher's education is a part of higher education. Therefore, at the state level, all of you have to achieve the most important goals related to teachers' education.</li><li>In view of the need to accelerate the spread of vocational education in India, it has been decided that at least 50% of the students will be provided vocational education by the year 2025 in the school and higher education system.</li><li>According to the 12th Five-Year Plan assessment, less than 5% of the workforce in India received formal vocational education. This number was 52% in the United States, 75% in Germany and 96% in South Korea.</li><li>It has been made clear in this policy that vocational education will be considered as a part of mainstream education and such education will be given equal respect. This will lead to skill enhancement in children and youth as well as a sense of respect for the dignity of labor.</li><li>Promotion of Indian languages, arts and culture has been given special importance in the National Education Policy because they are important for India's identity as well as our economy.</li><li>Quality higher educational institutions are to be set up in Aspirational Districts and Special Educational Zones. This will be an important step in the interest of socially and economically disadvantaged groups.</li><li>The goal is to provide at least one large multi-disciplinary higher education institution in or near each district by 2030 for higher education in deprived areas. For this, many steps will have to be taken at the state level. </li><li>To give impetus to a large and vibrant economy like India, it is necessary to encourage 'knowledge-creation' and research. The central and state governments will have to increase the percentage of investment in research and innovation.</li><li>It has been observed that the level of investment in research and innovation is 2.8% of GDP in the US, 4.2% in South Korea and 4.3% in Israel while in India it is only 0.7%.</li><li>A National Research Foundation will be established to inspire quality academic research in all fields. To strengthen the culture of research, all universities and higher education institutions will have to work with the National Research Foundation. </li><li>The use and integration of technology will accelerate learning process improvement and yield better results. For this, the National Educational Technology Forum - NETF. Will be established. Ntef The state government agencies will also provide consultation.</li><li>The success of the National Education Policy will depend on the effective contribution of both the Center and the State. Education is the subject of the concurrent list under the Indian Constitution. Therefore, it requires joint and coordinated action by the Center and the States.</li><li>I would request all the governors of the states to create a theme-based virtual association to implement the policy.</li></ul>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/us-magazine-fortune-released-its-annual-40-under-40-list-of-most-influential-people-under-the-age-of-40/slidelist/77906566.cms">Isha and Akash Ambani, Adar Poonawalla, Byju Raveendran — meet the Indians who made it to Fortune's ‘40 under 40’ list this year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/interview-madhuri-dixit-and-dr-shriram-nene-are-looking-to-raise-funds-for-their-online-dance-school-and-a-new-healthtech-venture/articleshow/77930270.cms">This Indian scientist-turned drugmaker doubled his wealth to $6 billion during coronavirus pandemic</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/interview-madhuri-dixit-and-dr-shriram-nene-are-looking-to-raise-funds-for-their-online-dance-school-and-a-new-healthtech-venture/articleshow/77930270.cms">Madhuri Dixit and Dr Shriram Nene are looking to raise funds for their online dance school and a new healthtech venture</a>

National Education Policy will help shape Atmanirbhar Bharat: PM Modi

By Shakoor Rather New Delhi, Jul 4 () India's COVID-19 vaccine programme has gained sudden traction but it is imperative to strike a balance between giving it high priority and rushing into a process that takes months, even years, several scientists said on Saturday, a day after the ICMR announced it envisaged a preventive by next month. There was hope but caution too as the Indian Council of Medical Research on Friday said it aims to launch the world's first COVID-19 vaccine by August 15. The same day, Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila announced it has got the Drugs Controller General of India's (DCGI) nod for human clinical trials for a potential vaccine. "Fast tracking a vaccine trial in four weeks for safety, immunogenicity and efficacy is just not possible if things are to be done correctly," Shahid Jameel, virologist and CEO of the Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance, a public charity that invests in building biomedical sciences and health research framework, told . Immunogenicity is the ability of a foreign substance, such as an antigen, to provoke an immune response in the body of a human or other animal, he explained. Virologist Upasana Ray added that an accelerated launch or promise for launch of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus deserves applause but it is important to ask whether "we are rushing too much". "We must rush albeit carefully. Giving this project high priority is absolutely important. However, excess pressure might not necessarily lead to a positive product for public use," the senior scientist at CSIR-IICB, Kolkata, told . India's premier medical body ICMR has said 12 clinical trial sites for the indigenous Covaxin, being developed in collaboration with the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), have been identified. It asked medical institutions and principal investigators to ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than July 7. "It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by August 15 after completion of all clinical trials," ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said in his letter to the principal investigators of the 12 sites. The tone of the letter and the haste it indicated had some scientists worried. They questioned the timeline of the announcement mentioned in the letter, and advised against subverting the due vaccine development process. "The ICMR 'letter' is, to say the least, a deeply inappropriate letter, in tone and content, both in terms of the integrity of due processes of product development, and in terms of technically realistic estimates," immunologist Satyajit Rath told . Vaccine development is a multi-phase process. Phase 1 trials are small-scale, usually involving few participants, to assess whether the vaccine is safe for humans. Phase 2 trials often involve several hundred subjects, and mainly evaluate the efficacy. The final phase involves thousands of people to further assess the efficacy of the vaccine over a defined period of time, and can last several months. Ray added that a vaccine normally takes at least 12-18 months to pass all necessary clinical trial phases. "From now till August 15, the company has just over a months' time to wrap up everything that normally a vaccine development process requires for releasing a vaccine for clinical use," she said. "How can such a sharp timeline be even decided? Where does the evidence come from that by such a short time all the essential steps will be completed? What about the safety and efficacy, the fundamental steps of any drug development? Have even the pre-clinical studies been completed? Too much rush comes with possible risks," she said. Ray noted that there are some broad mandatory steps for developing a vaccine. Preclinical tests in small animals and mammals, she stressed, are essential to assess neutralising antibody titers and that itself can take at least a month or two. A titer is a laboratory test that measures the presence and amount of antibodies in blood. "Next, we check for safety. Then is the human trial. Even if we are in a deep rush we have to wait for some time for immunised individuals to start generating antibodies. After that a population needs to be monitored over time to investigate if people are still being infected," she explained. Skipping steps could either be dangerous or lead to poor product, Ray said. "We must not compromise with the standard, the quality. We don't need to be the first to launch a drug but what we need is a Made in India vaccine that the entire world can rely on," she added. The vaccine landscape in India has been also bolstered after the approval for Zydus Cadila's vaccine candidate. It was fast-tracked following a recommendation by the subject expert committee on COVID-19, considering the emergency and unmet medical need during the pandemic. "DCGI Dr V G Somani has given approval for the phase I and II clinical trials (on humans) of the potential novel coronavirus vaccine developed by Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd on Thursday after its animal studies were found to be successful," an official source said. Jameel, winner of the 2000 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards, noted that it is a vaccine funded by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and the Department of Biotechnology. "Congratulations to Cadilla, BIRAC and DBT. We would look forward to properly conducted trials and good news in due course," he told . "I am glad that a locally made vaccine candidate is making the same progress that others elsewhere in the world are making, not just with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates but with DNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates, and I will look forward to the results," added Rath from Delhi's National Institute of Immunology (NII). Gautam I. Menon, professor from the Departments of Physics and Biology at Ashoka University, said Zydus Cadila's vaccine appears to have shown safety and efficacy in animal trials and so they have been allowed to go to the next step, to human trials. "This is the standard procedure. It is the human trials that are time-consuming and it is important to get this right," Menon told . In another development, Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla told The Tribune newspaper that the Covid-19 vaccine being developed at the University of Oxford will hit the market by the year-end. ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 is made from a virus (ChAdOx1), which is a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees, and has been genetically changed so that it is impossible for it to reproduce in humans. "I think it is likely that the ChAdOx1-S vaccine candidate which has entered a phase 3 clinical trial in Brazil, will give at least somewhat promising results by late this calendar year," Rath said. "Whether this will lead to the 'vaccine' becoming available in the market, and in the public health system, more importantly, by the end of this calendar year in India is much more uncertain, Mr Poonawala's welcome optimism notwithstanding," he added. SAR MIN MIN MIN

Scientists strike note of caution as 'Made in India' vaccine programme gains momentum  

<ul><li>Covishield, Oxford’s coronavirus vaccine candidate being tested by Serum Institute of India in the country, could be ready as early as December. </li><li>Dr Reddy’s Laboratories on October 28 said that phase 3 trials of Russia’s <keyword id="8904563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</keyword>, Sputnik V, is likely to be finished by the end of March next year. </li><li>PM Modi has <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-on-coronavirus-vaccine-distribution-1736090-2020-10-29">assured </a>that every Indian citizen will be vaccinated and no one will be left behind once a vaccine is available. </li></ul>Scientists are still looking for a cure for the deadly coronavirus, which has infected millions of people around the world. Two of the front runners in the race of vaccine — Moderna and Pfizer — are expected to launch their COVID-19 antidote by December. Whereas, Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine is triggering an immune response for both young people and adults. The overall number of global coronavirus cases is nearing the 44 million mark, while the deaths have increased to more than 1,173,270,, according to Johns Hopkins University. There are over 100 potential vaccine candidates being tested on volunteers globally. In India, three vaccines are in advance trials. In India, 3 vaccines are under advanced stage trials while 4 others are in preclinical stages. PM Modi has <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-on-coronavirus-vaccine-distribution-1736090-2020-10-29">assured </a>that every Indian citizen will be vaccinated and no one will be left behind once a vaccine is available. Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine to be ready by December, SII to seek emergency licence Covishield, Oxford’s coronavirus vaccine candidate being tested by Serum Institute of India in the country, could be ready as early as December. "If we don't go for an emergency license, our trials should be over by December and then we can maybe launch in India in January subject to the UK trial, which is on the verge of being completed," <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/adar-poonawalla-coronavirus-vaccine-batch-1-likely-by-middle-of-next-year-2316971">Adar Poonawalla told NDTV in an interview.</a> However, Poonawalla believes data from UK clinical trials is going to play a key role in determining the further status. Dr Reddy’s says Phase 3 trials of Sputnik V will be over by March Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, on October 28, said that phase three trials of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, is likely to be finished by the end of March next year. "Phase-3, we should finish somewhere by March, and then of course, it depends on the ability to compile the data, obtain the approvals, etc. It can be as early as the end of March or April /May and beyond. It depends on the results. It's a combination of phase-2, global phase-3 and phase-3 in India,"<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/dr-reddys-hopes-to-finish-phase-3-trials-of-covid-19-vaccine-by-march-may/articleshow/78917320.cms"> Dr Reddy’s CEO Erez Israeli said.</a> Dr Reddy’s will test the vaccine on 100 volunteers for phase 2 trials, and is likely to recruit 1,400 volunteers in the phase 3 trials. Bharat Biotech is looking to raise manufacturing capacity above 500 million doses Bharat Biotech — one of three companies conducting advanced stage trials in India for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate — says it is producing Covaxin at its own risk. <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/trying-to-raise-manufacturing-capacity-above-500-million-doses-as-soon-as-possible-bharat-biotech-executive-director-6883341/">According to Bharat Biotech executive director Sai Prasad</a>, the pharma company has a manufacturing capacity of 150 million doses per year. However, it is looking to increase “capacity north of 500 million doses as soon as possible.” Bharat Biotech is looking at developing a new facility in Hyderabad — adjacent to the existing one. Biological E to begin phase I and phase II human trials of its <keyword id="9171681" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Covid-19-vaccine-in-India">COVID-19 vaccine in India</keyword> Hyderabad-based Biological E <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/biological-e-gets-nod-for-human-trials-of-covid-19-vaccine/articleshow/78919542.cms?from=mdr">got </a>the approval to conduct phase I and phase II human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in India. The pharma company has partnered with an unidentified firm to conduct the trials, according to ET. Third phase human trial of COVID-19 vaccine to commence in Bhubaneswar soon The third phase of the human trial of the indigenous vaccine against COVID-19, COVAXIN, will commence at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar soon. Like the previous phases, half of the volunteers would receive placebo and the remaining half would be administered COVAXIN in this phase. Even health care workers would be recruited for the trial. The volunteers would be followed up over a considerable period of time to look at the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing the development of the Corona disease, according to Dr. E Venkata Rao, Principal Investigator in the COVAXIN human trial Bharat Biotech is looking to raise manufacturing capacity above 500 million doses Bharat Biotech — one of three companies conducting advanced stage trials in India for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate — says it is producing Covaxin at its own risk. <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/trying-to-raise-manufacturing-capacity-above-500-million-doses-as-soon-as-possible-bharat-biotech-executive-director-6883341/">According to Bharat Biotech executive director Sai Prasad</a>, the pharma company has a manufacturing capacity of 150 million doses per year. However, it is looking to increase “capacity north of 500 million doses as soon as possible.” Bharat Biotech is looking at developing a new facility in Hyderabad — adjacent to the existing one. SII finishes phase II trials of Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Mumbai Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have completed phase II trials of Oxford-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Mumbai. The civic body is soon going to begin the third phase. “With the approval, we will be able to start the third phase of the trial once the first set of volunteers complete 28 days of the first vaccination. As per ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), the third trial can only be conducted on volunteers after a gap of 28 days,” said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner, BMC. Every Indian citizen to get free COVID-19 vaccine, claims Union Minister Pratap Sarangi Union Minister Pratap Sarangi, on October 26, said that all people of the country would be given a free COVID vaccine. This comes amidst the demand by opposition parties to BJP to not use the vaccine as a<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bihar-election-manifesto-bharatiya-janata-party-bjp-promises-free-covid-vaccine-for-everyone/articleshow/78803796.cms"> poll promise </a>to win Bihar elections. The BJP announcement of free COVID vaccine for Bihar, where assembly polls begin this week, had kicked up a controversy with the opposition parties tearing into the NDA government, alleging that the ruling party was using the pandemic for political reasons. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said the announcement was in order as it was an election manifesto announcement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that all people will be provided free of cost vaccines. An estimated ₹500 will be spent on vaccination of each person, Sarangi told reporters after addressing a campaign meeting for the November 3 assembly by-poll in Balasore. Intranasal vaccine will be easier to deliver, says Biotech founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw In India, the intranasal vaccine will be easier to deliver than intramuscular injection, said Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar Shaw. "Indeed intranasal vaccines will be far easier to deliver than intramuscular injections n Asha workers can be trained to deliver it at mass scale unlike IM injections which will need nurses, doctors n MBBS students which is a challenge," Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw tweeted Bharat Biotech gets nod to conduct phase 3 trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate Bharat Biotech, on October 22, got the approval from the Drug Controller General of India to conduct phase III trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in the country. "The firm has presented their data from Phase I and II along with animal challenge data in two species including NHP on the Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine (BBV152) along with the proposal to conduct event-driven Phase III clinical trial to assess the efficacy of the vaccine," the expert panel of Subject Expert Committee (SEC) said. Indian government reportedly set aside $7 billion to vaccinate 1.3 billion people The Narendra Modi government has <a href="http://bloombergquint.com/coronavirus-outbreak/india-is-said-to-keep-7-billion-ready-for-vaccine-at-2-a-shot">reportedly </a>set aside ₹50,000 crore ($7 billion) to vaccinate 1.3 billion Indians against COVID-19, said Bloomberg citing sources. The government is estimating the overall cost of nearly $6-7 per person. Moreover, according to the government’s estimates <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-sets-aside-7-billion-to-vaccinate-its-population-sources/articleshow/78808899.cms">a shot of a vaccine is likely to cost around $2. </a> IIT-Indore’s COVID-19 vaccine enters animal trial phase IIT-Indore’s potential COVID-19 vaccine has <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/iit-indores-covid-vaccine-in-animal-trial-phase/articleshow/78759625.cms">entered </a>the animal trials stage at the National Centre for Cell Science in Pune. “The research team, led by Dr Debasis Nayak, has received funds for development of a vaccine against SARS-CoV2. Nayak is a veterinarian and he is running trials on animals to study the vaccine’s side effects,” Prof Neelesh Kumar Jain said. Indian pharma Mankind partners with RDIF to market Sputnik V in India Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has inked a pact with Delhi-based Mankind Pharma to market and distribute Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India, <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/rdif-inks-pact-with-mankind-pharma-for-marketing-sputnik-v-vaccine-11603005186344.html">according to Live Mint. </a> “It depends on how many doses they will give Mankind. RDIF has pacts with Russian and Korean manufacturers for around 50 million doses so far. Talks with Indian manufacturers are also ongoing. Mankind will get the doses once the approvals are in place and the doses are supplied," Mint reported citing sources. The pact comes after Dr Reddy’s Lab got the approval to conduct human trials of Sputnik V in India. Oxford-AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine will be ready by December The Serum Institute of India says Oxford-AstraZeneca’s potential COVID-19 vaccine will be ready by <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vaccine-ready-by-december-in-market-by-march-serum-institute-reveals-covid-19-vaccine-planning/story-KWBryK3euM7dbWa06GYZfJ.html">December </a>and available in market by March 2021 after procuring a license. "India may get COVID-19 vaccine by March 2021 provided the regulators speed up the process as multiple manufacturers are working on it," Jadhav said at the India Vaccine Accessibility e-summit organised by HEAL Foundation in association with ICCIDD. Meanwhile, Serum Institute has proposed the Drug Controller General of India to broaden the norms of clinical trials by including people with different conditions from all ages. Bharat Biotech partners with Washington University for an intranasal vaccine Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, on October 19, informed that Bharat Biotech would <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/serum-institute-bharat-biotech-to-start-intranasal-covid-19-vaccine-trials-soon-health-minister-2312103">develop </a>an intranasal vaccine for Sars-CoV-2. According to Harsh Vardhan, Bharat Biotech has entered into an agreement with Washington University and St. Louis University for the trials of the nasal vaccine candidate. "It (Bharat Biotech) has entered into an agreement with Washington University's School of Medicine under which the company will conduct trials, produce and market an intranasal vaccine for the COVID-19," Vardhan told his social media audience at his weekly webinar, Sunday Samvaad. The Phase 1 trials of the vaccine candidate will take place in St Louis University's vaccine and treatment evaluation unit, while further stages of the trials will be conducted in India. Dr Reddy’s receive approval for Sputnik V’s human trial in India Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories and Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, on October 17, announced that they have received approval from the Drug Control General of India to conduct an adaptive phase 2/3 human clinical trial for Sputnik V vaccine in India. Dr Reddy’s said that this will be a multi-center and randomised controlled study, which will include safety and immunogenicity study. Additionally, Phase 3 clinical trial of the vaccine commenced in the UAE last week On August 11, 2020, the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology was registered by the Ministry of Health of Russia and became the world's first registered vaccine against COVID-19 based on the human adenoviral vectors platform. A month later, Dr Reddy’s and RDIF entered into a partnership to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V vaccine and its distribution in India. Sputnik V is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials in Russia and the proposed number of subjects is 40,000. Apollo Hospitals is ready to administer 1 million COVID-19 vaccines daily Apollo Hospitals announced on October 15 that it is prepared to administer one million Covid-19 vaccines per day whenever the vaccine is rolled out. The group said it will leverage its robust pan-India network of 19 medicine supply hubs with cold chain facilities, 70 hospitals, over 400 clinics, 500 corporate health centres and 4000 pharmacies alongside their omni-channel digital platform to ensure massive administration capacity of COVID-19 vaccines. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/another-round-of-economic-stimulus-not-off-the-table-according-to-sitharaman/articleshow/78760271.cms">Another round of economic stimulus not off the table, according to Sitharaman</a>

COVID-19 vaccine updates in India: Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine trials can be over by December, if SII doesn’t go for emergency licence

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Experts tell Business Insider that a glass vial shortage, as well as cargo restraints, could limit the mass rollout of a <keyword id="8624004" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine</keyword>.</li><li>The vials are only made by a few companies, and boosting production could prove tricky. "The <keyword id="118965" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Supply-chain">supply chain</keyword> for vials is particularly challenging because manufacturing capacity ramp up takes longer, and is capital intensive," says Harvard Medical School lecturer Prashant Yadav.</li><li>While many of world's leading vial manufacturers are up for a challenge, several experts tell Business Insider that several factors including time, demand uncertainty, temperature control, transport, and storage issues could also curb production. </li><li>"The challenge of getting <keyword id="79555" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Vaccines">vaccines</keyword> to the public will depend on the availability of cold storage and aircraft capacity around the world," says Sam Roscoe, senior lecturer in operations management at the University of Sussex.</li></ul>Even if scientists find a coronavirus vaccine, we will need a supply of little glass tubes like never before — and experts are worried something could go badly wrong.Those <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-schott-exclusive/exclusive-bottlenecks-glass-vial-makers-prepare-for-covid-19-vaccine-idUKKBN23J0TP">warning</a> that a glass vial shortage could slow the roll-out of any coronavirus vaccine include <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-buying-glass-vials-for-billions-of-coronavirus-vaccines-2020-5">Bill Gates</a>, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca boss <a href="https://fr.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-schott-exclusive-idUSKBN23J0SN">Pascal Soriot</a>, the head of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the director general of drug makers' lobby group IFPMA. Each step of making vials could create a bottleneck, just as we're on the cusp of delivering the vaccine that saves us, they say. These are not new warnings. Experts <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-vaccine-glass-vial-shortage-could-delay-global-rollout-2020-5">said in May</a> that the right glassware could be in short supply — and four months later, little has changed. Instead, concerns are mounting that various parts of the vaccine supply chain, from vials to cold-storage containers to cargo planes, could hamper efforts to distribute the lifesaving jabs.Vaccine vials aren't standard glass tubes. They require tailor-made production lines, plus a supply of borosilicate glass to keep vaccines in the requisite stable state during storage and transportation. This glass is only made by a handful of companies, such as Corning in the US and Schott in Germany. "In the long run, we need new technology for vaccine packaging so that we don't rely exclusively on glass vials," says Harvard Medical School lecturer Prashant Yadav, who is also a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development and affiliate professor of technology and operations management at business school INSEAD. "However, our short-to-medium outlook for COVID-19 vaccines has to rely predominantly on glass vials."Vaccine is siphoned from giant vats into these vials, which each need to be checked for quality. The supply chain also needs specialist stoppers, again only made by a few companies. The world's leading vial manufacturers are, perhaps unsurprisingly, optimistic. Their joint <a href="https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/leading-pharma-packaging-companies-commit-to-supply-for-covid-19-fight-867614032.html">statement</a> from June was upbeat, if short on details. "We will do everything to support any upcoming <keyword id="8904563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</keyword> campaigns," said Dietmar Siemssen, chief executive of Gerresheimer AG. Schott chairman Dr Frank Heinricht promised his company would "do our utmost to provide the required containers."Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-vaccine-timeline-what-to-watch-leading-research-2020-3">There are 176 coronavirus vaccines in the works. Here's how top drugmakers see the race for a cure playing out in 2020 and 2021 and when the first shots might be available.</a>But mere assurances may not quell concerns — especially after similar promises over personal protective equipment (PPE) were broken in many countries. The UK government, for example, repeatedly promised millions of items of PPE would be distributed quickly and efficiently to the frontline, but <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-uk-doctors-threaten-to-quit-over-lack-of-protective-equipment-2020-3">nurses and doctors were constantly caught short</a>. They found ways to make do — at one point nurses cleaned old gowns with alcohol wipes — but no one can improvise a vial.Digging into the vial makers' statements doesn't boost confidence. Fabian Stocker, a senior Schott vice-president in charge of global strategy and pharmaceutical systems, spoke of a $1 billion investment plan to boost glass tubing and vial production by an extra seven billion doses — but included the qualifier, "<a href="https://www.outsourcedpharma.com/doc/do-the-math-no-shortage-of-vials-for-covid-vaccines-0001">by 2025</a>."Vial makers are, at least, readying themselves to massively ramp up production for any COVID-19 vaccine. Brendan Mosher, Corning's vice president and general manager of pharmaceutical technologies tells Business Insider it will quadruple production by the end of the year. The US government <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-corning/corning-wins-u-s-funding-to-boost-glass-vial-manufacturing-for-covid-19-therapies-idUSKBN23G1YY">awarded</a> them $204 million to boost capacity, including to build a new specialist glass furnace.The Oslo-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/world/covid-vaccines-fear-of-glass-vial-shortage-prompts-flurry-of-deals-11593077482045.html">paid</a> 19.7 million euros ($22 million) to Italy's Stevanato Group for 100 million glass vials that can hold up to two billion doses, while Schott has opened a<a href="https://www.caixinglobal.com/2020-07-31/with-covid-19-vaccines-in-the-pipeline-attention-turns-to-medical-grade-vials-101587341.html"> factory</a> in China to make glass for around 7 billion vials by the end of 2020.But Harvard's Yadav adds a cautionary note. "The supply chain for vials is particularly challenging because manufacturing capacity ramp up takes longer, and is capital intensive. We know that for products which require long time and significant capital to build capacity, if manufacturers bear the full risk of demand uncertainty, they may under-invest in manufacturing capacity as compared to what society needs."<h3>Vial confidence rests on big assumptions</h3>Even the manufacturers themselves don't fully know what to expect. The size of vials required if giant orders come is one area of uncertainty. Some countries operate vaccination programmes based on single-dose vials (2ml), while others like the US will likely want large vials holding up to 15 doses. Others still may want vaccines in ready-to-use glass syringes.While manufacturers stress they cope regularly with flexible formats, some concede potential issues. "At this point there is much we still don't know regarding the number of doses required and doses per vial," Corning's Mosher says. Dr Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at Johnson and Johnson, was blunter when he <a href="https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/coronavirus-vaccine-vials-supply-bottleneck/578793/">spoke to Biopharma Dive</a> in May: "Getting to five or 10 vaccines per vial is probably going to be essential to be able to cope with the volume. The capacity is not there to do it in the billions."Glass vials aren't the only worry. Sam Roscoe, senior lecturer in operations management at the University of Sussex, and a fellow of the UK Trade Policy Observatory group of experts, tells Business Insider that temperature control is tricky. "Vaccines are highly temperature sensitive — almost all need to be stored and transported between 2 degrees and 8 degrees celcius [36 and 46 degrees fahrenheit] from manufacture to administration. <div type="image" title="Dr Samuel Roscoe, Sussex University" height="2328" width="3096" msid="78238365" hostid="261"></div>"This makes the maintenance of a cold chain a key for the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Strategically located cold chain facilities — near major airports or major population centres — will therefore be in high demand."This transport and storage chain will be complex. "Companies will require cross-docking operations where vaccines can be safely handled and stored between each leg of their journey," Roscoe says. "Currently, warehouse space is being retrofitted to handle high volumes of COVID-19 vaccines, with large freight forwarders opening new temperature-controlled sites."Vaccines will need to be moved by cargo planes and the air freight industry has hugely scaled back when demand plummeted in lockdown. "The majority of vaccine distribution will therefore need to be by cargo aircraft or in retrofitted passenger planes," he says. "The challenge of getting vaccines to the public will depend on the availability of cold storage and aircraft capacity around the world."Roscoe says cold-storage shortages at African and Middle Eastern airports could hinder vaccines reaching those regions."The World Health Organization, UNICEF and USAID will have an important role to play in ensuring the current lack of cold storage does not impede the vaccine being distributed around the world," he adds.Politicians will play their part too — which worries some experts. While nations might form an orderly queue for supplies, a senior Trump administration official told the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/13/coronavirus-vaccine-corning-glass/">Washington Post</a> in July: "Our priorities are very clear. Let's take care of Americans first." And when Rick Bright — then head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the US body overseeing procurement and development of medical countermeasures — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rick-bright-whistleblower-tells-congress-us-unprepared-for-covid-19-2020-5">filed a report warning about glass vial shortage in May</a>, the Trump administration <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rick-bright-save-lives-trumps-disgruntled-label-coronavirus-2020-5">fired him</a>.The numbers that key players throw around don't inspire confidence. Schott's Fabian Stocker told <a href="https://www.outsourcedpharma.com/doc/do-the-math-no-shortage-of-vials-for-covid-vaccines-0001">Outsourced Pharma</a> that the "worst-case assumption" was the whole world would need 2 billion doses, which seems to be a shortfall on a planet of around 7.5 billion.Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine producer, said on September 14 that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-vaccine-wont-reach-everyone-for-four-years-serum-institute-2020-9">the world will need 15 billion doses</a> if the COVID-19 vaccine requires two jabs, as measles does. Roscoe says demand could be much higher than expected if there are repeated waves of infections. "Shortages are not likely in the initial wave of vaccinations — but may follow in the second and third round of vaccine distribution." Yadav agrees. The first phase for people who are high priority might be fine, but "when we get to late 2021 and 2022 and start looking at a global demand of over 10 billion doses — assuming vaccines which require two doses — that's when vial capacity becomes tight."

The rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine is under threat: Leading experts tell us they're worried about a shortage of glass vials, cargo planes, and cold-storage units

You Searched For "adar poonawalla investments" and got 9 results

Deepak Parekh, a legend from India’s financial capital, must be on your watchlist at Global Trends Festival 2020

BI India Bureau

Meet Vani Kola, the unicorn hunter, at Global Trends Festival 2020

BI India Bureau

Serum Institute to manufacture 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine

IANS

Serum Institute to manufacture 200mn doses of Covid-19 vaccine

IANS

Serum Institute of India to produce 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for less than ₹250 a dose

IANS

National Education Policy will help shape Atmanirbhar Bharat: PM Modi

BI India Bureau

Scientists strike note of caution as 'Made in India' vaccine programme gains momentum

PTI

COVID-19 vaccine updates in India: Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine trials can be over by December, if SII doesn’t go for emergency licence

BI India Bureau

The rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine is under threat: Leading experts tell us they're worried about a shortage of glass vials, cargo planes, and cold-storage units

Norman Miller