Serum Institute of India, an Indian vaccine maker, has confirmed of dumping one hundred million doses of expired covid nineteen vaccines.
The vaccines – which have a shelf life of nine months – expired in September this year.
The company stopped its vaccine production in December after the demand was alarmingly low.
The CEO, Adar Poonawalla, speaking on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) in the western Indian city of Pune on Thursday said the demand was low as people were tired of Covid.
“The booster vaccines have no demand as people now seem fed up with Covid, honestly, I’m also fed up” Mr Poonawala said on Thursday.
According to the federal health ministry, at least 70% of the Indian population took two doses of the covid jabs and have administered about 298 million booster doses.
In January 2022, India began giving boosters to healthcare and frontline workers, and those above 60 years with multiple chronic conditions.
In July, free booster doses were provided to all adults for 75 days to mark 75 years of India’s independence.
Serum Institute of India, largest vaccine producer, has been making the local version of AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria jab.
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