By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and CEO of Serum Institute, Adar Poonawalla, held a very cordial video talk and discuss on progress of COVID-19 vaccine. Among others, Chief Secretary, Asit Tripathy, Chief Advisor to CMO, R Balakrishnan, ACS Health Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra and Secretary to CM (5-T) V Karthikeya Pandian were present.
While expressing his happiness that Serum Institute has partnered with Oxford University to develop COVID-19 vaccine, Patnaik sought Poonawalla’s cooperation to keep Odisha as a priority for vaccination once necessary clearances are obtained.
The CM said that the State Government will be in touch with Serum Institute for this purpose. The Chief Minister also applauded the philanthropic activities carried out by Poonawalla and the foresight in tying up with various research institutions across globe to develop vaccine for Covid.
He also congratulated for the recent promising results published in Lancet on Covid vaccine. Poonawalla appreciated the CM for getting in touch with Serum institute for knowing about the progress of vaccine and the results published in Lancet.
He said that Oxford University vaccine has shown promising results in the first phase trial. In India, the next phase trial will start in mid August and the vaccine will be ready by October-November this year, he added.He further said Serum institute and state government can be in touch with each other and carry forwad the collaboration once the vaccines are cleared and ready.
