Geneva, May 19, (dpa/GNA) – An Indian coronavirus vaccine producer has indicated the planned delivery of doses to poorer countries will be suspended for months.
The Serum Institute of India (SII) said on Tuesday that exports can hopefully resume by the end of the year, citing India’s own massive coronavirus wave as the reason for delays.
India is the second-worst infected country in the world after the US, with a total coronavirus caseload of 25 million.
The delay is a blow to the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative, which had originally expected 110 million doses from the SII to supply poorer countries by May. It is facing major procurement problems.
SII is licensed to produce the AstraZeneca vaccine. Since March, India has claimed the doses for its own people and exports under the contract have been halted.
The global vaccination alliance Gavi, which manages COVAX, is in close contact with SII and with the Indian government in New Delhi, a Gavi spokesman said Tuesday evening in Geneva.
Gavi remains hopeful that deliveries can resume in a reduced quantity in the third quarter of the year, the spokesman said.
GNA