Serum Institute of India (SII) dispatched the first consignment of Covishield vaccine early on Tuesday morning.
Three trucks carried the vaccines to Pune Airport, from where cargo planes transported the vaccines to other parts of the country. According to sources, the trucks carried 478 boxes of the vaccines.
“ An emotional moment for the team at @SerumInstIndia as the first shipments of #Covishield finally leave for multiple locations across India” tweeted SII CEO Adar Poonawalla.
Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted: “Today @airindiain @flyspicejet @goairlinesindia & @IndiGo6E will operate 9 flights from Pune with 56.5 lakh doses to Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Bengaluru, Lucknow & Chandigarh”.
SB Logistics is handling air transportation of the vaccine from Pune airport. An ANI report quoting the MD of the logistics company, Sandip Bhosale, said a total of eight flights will transport the Covishield vaccine from Pune International Airport to 13 different locations today. The first flight would leave for Delhi airport.
The DCP (Zone 5) Pune, Namrata Patil, said the police had made security arrangements for the transport of the vaccines.
The Centre has placed a purchase order with Serum Institute for 11 million doses of Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, at ₹210 per dose (including GST).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the State governments would not have to pay for vaccinating healthcare and frontline workers.
Covishield to cost Rs 1,000 in private market: Poonawalla
“We've given a special price of Rs 200 for the first 100 mn doses only to GoI on their request, that we want to support common man, vulnerable, poor, healthcare workers. After that, we'll be selling it at Rs 1000 in pvt markets” ANI reported quoting Adar Poonawalla.
“We're trying to supply vaccine to Africa, South America. So we're doing a little bit everywhere. So we'll try to keep everyone happy” he added.