Covishield Maker Serum Institute Partners With CII To Accelerate COVID Vaccination Drive In Rural Areas, Small Towns

In a bid to accelerate vaccination against COVID-19 in rural areas and small towns of the country, Pune-based vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII) has entered into a partnership with the industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), reports Hindustan Times.

SII's chief executive Adar Poonawalla said that the partnership “will be a good way to close the gaps” as there is plenty of supply of Covishield doses available for distribution. He emphasised that it is essential that all stakeholders work together towards carrying out vaccinations.

CII's president TV Narendran said that the partnership with SII will help in catalysing the industry participation to reach out to the communities at large. He said that CII aims to connect community, hospital and corporates to fast-track vaccinations.

CII is also mapping the state-wise vaccination requirement and setting up inoculation camps focusing on reaching rural areas and second and third-tier cities.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that other than SII's Covishield, India is also using Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines for nationwide inoculation drive.