Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla to get Y category security, says Centre Move comes after Covishield maker gets threats regarding vaccine supplies
Serum Institute of India s CEO Adar Poonawalla has been accorded Y category security across India by the CRPF in view of potential threats to the businessman, involved in the production of one of the Covid-19 vaccines in India, the Union government officials said on Wednesday.
The Central government decision came after Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), Prakash Kumar Singh had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 16 requesting security for Poonawalla.
SII CEO Adar Poonawalla to get ‘Y’ category security
By Mansoor| Published: 28th April 2021 8:10 pm IST Serum Institute of India s CEO Adar Poonawalla
New Delhi: Serum Institute of India’s CEO Adar Poonawalla will get ‘Y’ category security across India by the CRPF, the Union government officials said on Wednesday.
The Union government’s decision came after Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), Prakash Kumar Singh had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 16 requesting security for Poonawalla.
Covishield, one of the two COVID-19 vaccines used in India’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, is being manufactured by SII.
: Wednesday, April 28, 2021, 11:35 PM IST
COVID-19: In a philanthropic gesture SII cuts Covishield vaccine price for states to Rs 300 per dose
The gesture came after widespread criticism of its pricing policy and the Supreme Court putting the Centre on the mat, asking it to control the vaccine prices in two days
Serum Institute reduces price of its COVID-19 vaccine Covishield to Rs 300 per dose to states: CEO Adar Poonawalla
Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), the largest vaccine producer in the world, on Wednesday cut the price of Covishield to be supplied to the States to Rs 300, instead of Rs 400 per dose, as a philanthropic gesture. The gesture came after widespread criticism of its pricing policy and the Supreme Court putting the Centre on the mat, asking it to control the vaccine prices in two days.
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Serum Institute of India (SII) Adar Poonawalla has been accorded Y category security, news agency ANI said in a tweet. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued orders and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel will provide security to him, it added.
Ministry of Home Affairs has issued orders to provide Y category security on an all India basis to Serum Institute s Adar Poonawalla; CRPF to provide security to him pic.twitter.com/e7BEcSSeGe ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2021
Reportedly, the decision came after Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at SII, Prakash Kumar Singh had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 16 requesting security for Poonawalla.
Days after the Centre asked Covid-19 vaccine makers to cut prices for the universal immunisation drive, Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has responded with a 25 per cent reduction in the rate card for state governments. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, put out a message on his Twitter handle on Wednesday that Covishield would be available at Rs 300 per dose for state governments.
Just a week ago, SII had fixed the price at Rs 400 a dose for states and Rs 600 for private hospitals, while continuing to offer it at Rs 150 to the Centre, setting off a row over differential pricing.