On Jan. 3 India gave emergency authorization for two COVID-19 vaccines, those of AstraZeneca of England and Bharat Biotech of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India!” He called it a “decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight.” India’s Serum Institute is producing 1 billion doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, which they call Covishield. The Pune-based facility, the world’s largest vaccine production facility, has already produced 50-75 million doses for immediate distribution, and plans to reach 500 million doses by July.
India’s plan is to first vaccinate healthcare workers, first responders and front-line personnel such as police, and those who are vulnerable due to age or pre-existing conditions. This involves 300 million people and is to be completed by August.
