With WHO backing, SII to ship Astra Covid-19 vaccine to 70 countries

After audit of Pune plant, Serum may supply vaccines to UK as well

After Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) got emergency-use licence (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), it will now export the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine (local version is known as Covishield) to around 67-70 countries. Its Novavax vaccine candidate (which it is also manufacturing) will be exported to over 90 countries. Earlier South Africa had rejected the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying it did not work against the country-specific coronavirus strain.

A team from the British drug regulator’s office visited SII’s Pune facility earlier this week for an audit, claimed sources close to the development. “This could lead to SII supplying the AstraZeneca vaccine