India destroys expired vaccines; Over million vaccines to expire on Oct 31 in SL

23 October 2022 10:27 am Views - 932

Indian vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII) has said it had to dump 100 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine after they expired.

The firm stopped producing Covishield in December last year due to low demand, CEO Adar Poonawalla said on Thursday.

SII, the world's largest vaccine maker, has been making the local version of AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria jab.

Covishield accounts for over 90% of the doses given in India.

India has administered over two billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines. More than 70% of the Indian population has taken at least two doses, according to the federal health ministry.

In January 2022, India began giving boosters to healthcare and frontline workers, and those above 60 years with comorbidities. It was later expanded to all adults.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry of Sri Lanka said that a consignment of over a million COVID-19 vaccines is due to expire on October 31st.

However, no final decision has been taken so far with regard to the COVID-19 vaccines which are due to expire.