<p>Amid severe criticism, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Tuesday said exports of Covishield vaccines was part of commitment but not at the cost of Indians.</p>.<p>Poonawalla, who along with his family is currently in London, issued a statement on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"If we look at total doses produced and delivered, we rank amongst the top three in the world," he said.</p>.<p>"We would like to reiterate that we have never exported vaccines at the cost of the people in India and remain committed to do everything we can in the support of the vaccination drive in the country. We have been working with the government tirelessly to do our best for humanity and will continue in the same spirit," Poonawalla, whose SII is the first Indian company to roll out Covid-19 vaccine, said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/98-population-in-india-still-vulnerable-to-covid-19-infection-centre-987273.html">98% population in India still vulnerable to Covid-19 infection: Centre</a></strong></p>.<p>In January 2021 India had a large stockpile of vaccine doses. The vaccination drive had started successfully and the number of daily cases being recorded were at an all-time low. At that stage, most people, including health experts, believed that India was turning the tide on the pandemic, the statement said.</p>.<p>According to Poonawalla, around the same time, many other countries in the world were facing an acute crisis and were in desperate need of help. "Our government extended support wherever possible during this period. It is this spirit that had initially led to cooperation between countries when the virus first emerged in the beginning of 2020. The cooperation between countries also forms the basis for us to get access to technology and aid for healthcare," he said.</p>.<p>Poonawalla said that people must also understand that this pandemic is not limited by geographic or political boundaries.</p>.<p>"We will not be safe until everyone globally is able to defeat this virus. Further, as part of our global alliances, we also had commitments to COVAX, so that they could distribute the vaccines around the world to end the pandemic," he said.</p>.<p>The SII CEO also stressed on the fact that India is the second most populous country in the world, and said that a vaccination drive of such a large scale cannot be completed within 2-3 months, as there are several "factors and challenges" involved. It would take 2-3 years for the entire world population to get fully vaccinated, he added.</p>
<p>Amid severe criticism, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Tuesday said exports of Covishield vaccines was part of commitment but not at the cost of Indians.</p>.<p>Poonawalla, who along with his family is currently in London, issued a statement on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"If we look at total doses produced and delivered, we rank amongst the top three in the world," he said.</p>.<p>"We would like to reiterate that we have never exported vaccines at the cost of the people in India and remain committed to do everything we can in the support of the vaccination drive in the country. We have been working with the government tirelessly to do our best for humanity and will continue in the same spirit," Poonawalla, whose SII is the first Indian company to roll out Covid-19 vaccine, said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/98-population-in-india-still-vulnerable-to-covid-19-infection-centre-987273.html">98% population in India still vulnerable to Covid-19 infection: Centre</a></strong></p>.<p>In January 2021 India had a large stockpile of vaccine doses. The vaccination drive had started successfully and the number of daily cases being recorded were at an all-time low. At that stage, most people, including health experts, believed that India was turning the tide on the pandemic, the statement said.</p>.<p>According to Poonawalla, around the same time, many other countries in the world were facing an acute crisis and were in desperate need of help. "Our government extended support wherever possible during this period. It is this spirit that had initially led to cooperation between countries when the virus first emerged in the beginning of 2020. The cooperation between countries also forms the basis for us to get access to technology and aid for healthcare," he said.</p>.<p>Poonawalla said that people must also understand that this pandemic is not limited by geographic or political boundaries.</p>.<p>"We will not be safe until everyone globally is able to defeat this virus. Further, as part of our global alliances, we also had commitments to COVAX, so that they could distribute the vaccines around the world to end the pandemic," he said.</p>.<p>The SII CEO also stressed on the fact that India is the second most populous country in the world, and said that a vaccination drive of such a large scale cannot be completed within 2-3 months, as there are several "factors and challenges" involved. It would take 2-3 years for the entire world population to get fully vaccinated, he added.</p>
