Govt signs purchase order with Serum for AstraZeneca vaccine: Report

The nationwide vaccination drive is slated to kick off on January 16

India’s government has signed a purchase order with vaccine producer Serum Institute for doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Television channel CNBC-TV 18 said the order was for 11 million doses.

The government has also signed a purchase agreement with Indian firm Bharat Biotech for its COVID-19 vaccine, the news channel reported, citing unnamed sources.

Representatives for Serum, Bharat Biotech and India’s health ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

India’s drug regulator had earlier this month given emergency use approval for both vaccines.

The government aims to secure