Covishield Vaccine Production Surpasses 1 Billion

Serum Institute of India (SII) announced on November 26, 2021, it has resumed exporting its COVID-19 vaccine to COVAX, which distributes vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.

The resumption of Covishield vaccine exports is linked to SII surpassing its original target to produce 1 billion doses by the end of 2021.

SII stated in a press release it has reached this milestone.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, said in a press release, "I want to thank our workforce for their superhuman efforts in achieving this major milestone, with 1 billion doses of COVISHIELD produced. We started to invest at-risk in COVID-19 vaccine production back in March 2020."

"It's a huge moment to begin exports again, for us, our partners at COVAX and the low- and middle-income countries we support."

"The world has largely depended on the low-cost, high-quality pharmaceuticals and vaccines that India has traditionally exported, so we are delighted to support the global vaccination effort once more."

 CoviShield is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus). In addition, genetic material has been added, which is used to make proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus called Spike glycoprotein.

This COVID-19 vaccine was co-developed by AstraZeneca Plc and the University of Oxford and is the same formulation as the Vaxzevria (AZD1222) vaccine.

The WHO has included Covishield in its emergency use listing.