Serum Institute of India chief Adar Poonawalla has issued a clarification after his extraordinary escape to the United Kingdom followed by an interview with London’s The Times newspaper caused tremors in India. Poonawalla, who escaped to the UK just before the British government imposed a travel ban on non-citizens and residents, had spoken about receiving threats to his life and how his head would be chopped off if he honestly commented about the role of Kumbh Mela and election rallies to the spread of the virus during the latest wave of the pandemic.
In his new statement, Poonawalla wrote, “I would like to clarify certain things since my comments may have been misinterpreted.”
He added, “First of all, vaccine manufacturing is a specialised process… it is therefore not possible to ramp up production overnight… We also need to understand that the population of India is huge and to produce enough doses is not an easy task. Even the most advanced countries and companies are struggling in relatively smaller population.”
“Secondly, we’ve been working closely with the government of India since April last year. We’ve got all kinds of support, be it scientific, regulatory and financial,” he continued.
Poonawalla’s comments on receiving threats to his life had evoked strong reactions from the Congress party, which had asked the SII chief to reveal the names of those rich and powerful, who had issued him threats.
Amongst multiple reports it is important that correct information be shared with the public. pic.twitter.com/nzyOZwVBxH
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) May 3, 2021
Meanwhile, another statement from Serum Institue of India said that ‘100% advance of Rs. 1732.50 cr (after TDS Rs. 1699.50 cr) was released to Serum Institute of India (SII) on 28.04.2021 for 11 crore doses of Covishield vaccine during May, June and July, and was received by them on 28.04.2021.As on date, against the last order of 10 crore doses for supplies of Covishield vaccine, 8.744 crore doses have been delivered till 03.05.2021.’
It added, “Additionally, 100% advance of Rs. 787.50 cr (after TDS Rs. 772.50 cr) was released on 28.04.2021 to Bharat Biotech India Ltd (BBIL) for 05 crore Covaxin doses during May, June and July, and was received by them on 28.04.2021. As on date against the last order of 02 crore doses for supplies of Covaxin vaccine, 0.8813 crore doses have been delivered till 03.05.2021.”
Hence to say that fresh orders have not been placed by Government of India is not correct, the statement added.
According to Poonawalla’s company, ‘as of 2nd May 2021, Govt. of India has provided more 16.54 crore vaccine doses to States/UTs Free of Cost.’ “More than 78 lakh doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered. More than 56 Lakh doses in addition will be received by the States/UTs in the next 3 days,” it said.