Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, requested countries and governments awaiting the Covishield vaccine to "please be patient" as the institute has been directed to put the needs of the country ahead of export. Serum Institute of India is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer and is developing the covid vaccine Covishield in partnership with Oxford University and AstraZeneca.
"Dear countries & governments, as you await #COVISHIELD supplies, I humbly request you to please be patient, @SerumInstIndia has been directed to prioritise the huge needs of India and, along with that, balance the needs of the rest of the world. We are trying our best," Poonawalla tweeted.
Covishield has been producing vaccines for export to about 25 countries, including Brazil, Mexico and Canada, while also trying to cater to domestic needs. Covishield and Covaxin are the two vaccines cleared by the DCGI for administration in the country.