A health worker holds up a Covishield vial. (File Photo | EPS) 
India

Serum Institute of India restarts manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield

Adar Poonawalla said the company has six million booster doses of the Covovax vaccine available and adults must take the booster shot.

PTI

NEW DELHI: Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla on Wednesday said it has restarted manufacturing of the Covid-19 vaccine Covishield amid rising numbers of cases of the virus infection.

He said the company already has six million booster doses of the Covovax vaccine available and adults must take the booster shot.

Reacting to reports of Covid-19 vaccine shortage, he said manufacturers are ready but there has been no demand.

"Just as a precaution, at risk, we have done it so that people have a Covishield as a choice if they want it," Poonawalla told PTI on restarting of manufacturing of the vaccine. The company stopped manufacturing Covishield in December 2021.

On Covovax which has been approved as a booster dose for 18 years and above, he said, "We have six million doses ready but the demand is exactly zero. " Covovax booster is now on the CoWin app, he said.

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