India: Vaccine maker SII forced to destroy 100 million doses of expired Covid vaccine

Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla confirmed on Thursday that the company had stopped making new Covid-19 vaccines back in December 2021 and also had to dump at least 100 million doses after they expired.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the 23rd annual general meeting of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers’ Network (DCVMN) in the Indian city of Pune, Poonawallasaid, “People are fed up of Covid and vaccines. However, maybe people can take a flu shot annually along with a Covid booster.”

He added, “But in India, there is no culture of taking a flu shot every year, like in the West.” Meanwhile, the booster shot Covovax trials are underway and are expected to get approval within the next two weeks, said the SII CEO.

SII had around 100 million Covidshield vaccines in stock, which havea shelf-life of nine months and expired in the last month of September this year, the CEO said.

Meanwhile, the vaccine manufacturer also indicated that they are working on developing new vaccines against the emerging sub-variant Omicron, however, it will take time, said Poonawalla. Reportedly, the SII is also working with US biotech company Novavax to develop a booster specifically for Omicron.

India has administered over two billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines with more than 70% of the population having taken at least two doses. Covidshield, the local version of AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria vaccine, accounts for more than 90% of all doses given in India and was manufactured by SII.

In India, the Covid-19 booster shots, which had initially been for healthcare and frontline workers as well as people over the age of 60 years with comorbidities, were later expanded to all adults. According to the Union health ministry, so far India has given 298 million booster doses.

(With inputs from agencies)

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