Pune, India: The Serum Institute of India (SII), an indigenous biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals company and the manufacturer of COVID-19  vaccines, has reported that the organization had to destroy 100 million doses after their expiry.

According to CEO Mr. Adar Poonawalla, the company ceased manufacturing Covishield (known as Vaxzevria in the EU) vaccine in December of last year due to low demand.

The vaccine from AstraZeneca was produced locally by SII, the biggest vaccine manufacturer in the world.

In India, Covishield makes up more than 90 percent of all dosages. Over two billion doses of the COVID19 vaccination have been given out in India.

The federal health ministry stated that, more than 70 percent of Indians have been vaccinated with at least two doses. India started providing boosters in January 2022 to frontline healthcare personnel, those over 60, and people with comorbid conditions. Later, it was made available to all adults.

To commemorate 75 years of India’s independence, free booster doses, or precaution doses as the government refers to them, were given to all adults in July for a period of 75 days

Mr. Poonawala told reporters that “The booster vaccines have no demand as people now seem fed up with COVID, honestly, I’m also fed up. We all are.”

The SII reportedly had about 100 million doses of Covishield in stock. The vaccines’ nine-month shelf life expired in September of this year, Mr. Poonawala observed.

“Going forward, when people take a flu shot every year, they may take a COVID vaccine along with it. But in India, there is no culture of taking a flu shot every year, like in the West.” Mr. Poonawala remarked.

Mr. Poonawala further added that the COVID-19 vaccine, Covovax, to be used as a booster dose had successfully completed SII trials. Within the next two weeks, the vaccine should receive approval.

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