The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, expects India to ease restrictions on Covid-19 vaccine exports in about two months, its chief executive said, as he criticised wealthy countries for planning boosters while poorer nations struggle with initial jabs.
Indian vaccine exports were halted in April when the country was hit by a ferocious second coronavirus wave, fuelled by the highly infectious Delta variant. The restrictions were a major blow to developing countries counting on affordable Indian jabs to vaccinate their own populations.
Adar Poonawalla expressed optimism that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government would permit a gradual resumption of exports, with India’s own vaccine rollout gaining momentum after a difficult start.