The Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech released on Tuesday, calling for a truce after a row over coronavirus vaccines, a joint statement in which firms agreed to work together on this initiative.
“India and Bharat Biotech Serum Institute jointly communicate its pledge to India and to the world for the smooth deployment of Covid 19 vaccines,” the statement reads.
Important Announcement: Joint statement @BharatBiotech and @SerumInstIndia pic.twitter.com/la5av27Mqy
— SerumInstituteIndia (@SerumInstIndia) January 5, 2021
The more important task before them is to save the life and livelihoods of populations of India and the world, they(Adar Poonawala and Dr. Krishna Ella) said in a joint statement.
“Vaccines are global good for public health and are capable of saving lives and speeding up the return to economic normalcy as soon as possible,” read the joint statement.
The emphasis is on development, supply, and distribution, SII and Bharat Biotech said that communities most in need receive high-quality, healthy, and effective vaccines.
“We are also actively involved in these activities and see it as our responsibility to ensure that the vaccines are adequately adopted by the country and the world as a whole. Each of our companies continues their essential task of saving lives and livelihoods—19 development activities on vaccines as expected.”
“We are fully aware that vaccines are so important for people and countries alike, and we communicate our shared commitment to providing global access to our Covid 19 vaccines.” firms added.
Earlier, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla went to Twitter to explain that exports of vaccines to all countries are allowed after news broke yesterday about the government refusing to export for several months the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine. He added that soon a declaration would be issued about the miscommunication.
In a tweet, he said, ”I would like to clarify two matters; as there is confusion in the public domain, exports of vaccines are permitted to all countries and a joint public statement clearing up any recent miscommunication with regards to Bharat Biotech will be made”
I would like to clarify two matters; as there is confusion in the public domain, exports of vaccines are permitted to all countries and a joint public statement clearing up any recent miscommunication with regards to Bharat Biotech will be made.
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 5, 2021
Poonawalla said previously that the Emergency Use Authorization from Covishield had been given provided that the company did not export the shots to secure adequate stock in India.
As of this week, Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin have both received emergency use approval in India.