Challenge will be making sure Covid-19 vaccine efficacy is high: Serum CEO

The data from the trials and the vaccinated groups will show the levels of efficacy from the Oxford project, says Adar Poonawalla

Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer of Serum Institute of India — the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume — has said his biotechnology firm,  in partnership with an Oxford University-led consortium, will roll out a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine before the end of this year. Poonawalla tells Pavan Lall that he will be setting up a factory so that work can begin as soon as approvals and clinical trials are wrapped up. Edited excerpts:
 

You are planning to make the vaccine available at Rs 1,000. Isn’t that high for millions of low-income households?
 

We are going to supply the