Indian pharma industry can produce COVID-19 vaccines for entire world: Bill Gates

India has a lot of capacity there — with the drug and vaccine companies that are huge suppliers to the entire world. You know, more vaccines are made in India than anywhere– starting with Serum Institute, that’s the largest,  Gates stated

Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist speaking in a documentary — COVID-19: India’s War Against The Virus — to be premiered on Discovery Plus today said that India’s pharmaceutical industry will be able to produce COVID-19 vaccines not just for the country but also for the entire world.

Gates mentioned that India has joined the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and he seems very excited about the efforts taken by the Indian Pharma Inc.

Gates said, “ India has a lot of capacity there — with the drug and vaccine companies that are huge suppliers to the entire world. You know, more vaccines are made in India than anywhere– starting with Serum Institute, that’s the largest.”

He further said, “But (there are) also Biological E, Bharat (Biotech), many others. They are doing work to help make the coronavirus vaccine, building on other great capacities that they have used for other diseases.”

Gates mentioned that Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is also a partner with the government, particularly with the department of biotechnology, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the office of the principal scientific advisor provide advice and help about getting these tools going”.

Speaking about the challenge that India has at hand, he went on, “India also faces a huge challenge due to the health crisis because of its gigantic size and urban centres with a lot of population density.”

Gates also appreciated the efforts India has taken so far to reduce the spread while trying not to reduce food availability, equipment that people need.”