The US is looking at starting joint production of Johnson and Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine in India and exploring ways to help manufacturers like Serum Institute of India (SII) to boost production.
Briefing the media, Daniel B Smith, the Charge D’Affaires of the US embassy, said the US was concerned over the havoc wreaked by the raging pandemic in India, not simply because of the humanitarian catastrophe but also due to the fact that it has global implications, PTI reported. Smith also said that the Biden administration was standing with India to deal with this unprecedented crisis.
Asked about possibility of joint production of vaccines, Smith said the setting up of joint productions is a time-consuming process and that the US was looking at how it can engage in ramping up production.
“Our development finance cooperation is looking at how we can invest so that we can help produce the Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine here in India. And I know that there are some private-sector production talks that are underway from pharmaceutical companies to pharmaceutical companies,” he said.
“We are determined to do all we can as a government to encourage licensing and encourage more production and if there is a need for capital, we will look at what we can provide and whether we can provide assistance,” he said.
He also reiterated that India’s role in COVID-19 vaccine production at the global stage is critical.
“I think we are watching carefully the production levels at the SII and elsewhere. We’ve been in close touch with the SII to try to determine what raw materials we could provide, and assistance that we can provide to help boost production,” he said.
Smith also said that the efficacy of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine manufactured at a production facility in Baltimore has not yet been certified by the Food and Drug Administration either for anyone’s use or for export.