Coronavirus vaccine update: COVID-19 vaccine distribution would take 4-5 years, says SII CEO Adar Poonawallah

As COVID cases continue to surge globally, the need for a vaccine to prevent the pandemic is more urgent than before. Recent developments have highlighted that getting a vaccine ready is closer than we thought. Still, there remain major doubts to be answered.

While scientists work on delivering a safe and effective prototype for the billions pinning hope on a COVID vaccine, larger problems have been identified pertaining to delivery and production. Developing a vaccine is only half part of the deal. A COVID vaccine would only be deemed effective if it is administrated properly, reaches all vulnerable population at risk and provides ample protection.

Pharma companies and producers have already started to line up assembly lines to deliver doses for those in need. However, it would still take a long while before everybody is safely inoculated. Now, Serum Institute of India's CEO, Adar Poonawallah has said that it will be a long, long wait to vaccinate every person.

Poonawallah, who is currently winning praise for diving into the vaccine race and getting India priority access said that authorities would need a minimum of 4-5 years to vaccinate everyone and get rid of COVID away from the root.

Speaking to Financial Times, the CEO highlighted the discrepancies and hurdles vaccine companies face in producing a vaccine for the masses. Adding that the world cannot depend on a vaccine alone, he said,

From the lack of cold chain production centres, infrastructural deficiency, Poonawallah said that there may not be enough doses available for all and a lot of strategising will need to be done before administration gets done:

“It’s going to take four to five years until everyone gets the vaccine on this planet,”

The 38-year-old CEO also said that despite India being one of the prime vaccine producers, supply and delivery hiccups pose risks to vaccine distribution in the country:

“I still don’t see a proper plan on paper to do that [in India] beyond 400m doses. You don't want a situation with the vaccine where you have the capacity for your country but you can’t consume it,

Top government officials in India, meanwhile have been holding weekly meetings to strategic vaccine delivery, which is expected to happen in the coming months. Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan also suggested the availability of a vaccine soon, adding that he would be ready to take the first jab to do away with safety fears.

Suggesting that pharma companies would need to create a 'bank' of doses, Poonawallah said that at least 15 billion doses would be needed if a two-dose administration(similar to other anti-viral vaccination drives) is considered.

While Serum Institute of India, overseeing work on phase II/III trials of the Oxford vaccine (to be marketed as 'Covishield' in India) received a show-cause notice from DCGI, the Pune-based company has also signed strategic deals with over five vaccine companies involved in the production of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Apart from being a key player in the COVID-19 vaccine hunt, Serum Institute is a leading vaccine producer for India and the world. The company put the production of other key deliverables and medical supplies on hold to supply million of an approved vaccine.

SII has promised to reserve upwards of 50% doses of the vaccine which is approved first for the Indian masses and other developing countries. The pharma major has also signed a deal with WHO and Gates Foundation to ensure fair pricing of the COVID vaccine currently under testing.

The private vaccine maker's statement echoes the concerns raised by the problems of improper distribution, as governments start to reserve millions of doses from private vaccine companies currently working on a vaccine.

WHO has also stressed that proper vaccine distribution channel would take over 3 years to smoothen out.