Vaccine invented by Oxford University to cost Rs. 1000 in India?
Posted on: 22/Jul/2020 12:44:37 PM
Pune Serum Institute of India has announced that it has planned to commence with a token production 30 Lakhs to 40 lakhs units of the vaccine invented by Oxford University jointly with AstraZeneca by around December. It has informed that the price of the vaccine is being fixed as Rs. 1000/-.
The vaccine, jointly invented by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, named ‘COVIDSHIELD’, is on the testing phase in Great Britain and India.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pune Serum Institute of India, Adhar Poonawalla, has declared that if the tests are successful, this would be the world’s first vaccine for treating the infection of the coronavirus. He further informed that it has been decided to test this vaccine on an additional 5000 persons before end August.
Once the results of these tests are released and proper licence for manufacture are obtained, this vaccine would be sold by next June (2021).
He informed that there are prospects that the vaccine would be priced at Rs. 100.- each. Further, he shared that as it is generally expected that several nations world over will procure the same and give it free to their patients, the public need not unduly worry about the price of the vaccine.
Oxford University has entered into an agreement with the Pune Serum Institute of India to manufacture the coronavirus curing vaccine as required by 60 countries in the world including India for treating about 300 Crore persons.
In this scenario, Pune Serum Insatiate of India has informed that even before obtaining the proper official licence for production, the company has already invested about Rs. 1500 Crores on this.
Oxford University and AstraZeneca have chosen the Pune Serum Institute of India for the manufacture of the invented vaccine as this company is the largest manufacturer of vaccines in the world.
The Medical Journal ‘LANCET’ informed:
“It is already thoroughly established that there are no harmful side-effects by administering this vaccine to the patients. Further, it is also confirmed that this vaccine enhances the production of ‘T’ Cells, which are required for the enhancement of strong body resistance or immunity against various diseases.”
