Headquarters of world’s largest vaccine manufacturer burnt down in India

A fire broke out this Thursday at the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest manufacturer of coronavirus vaccines, although local media have assured that vaccine production is not affected. So far, no injuries have been reported.

The footage showed huge gray smoke above the headquarters of the Serum Institute of India in the western city of Pune, where Millions of doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are currently being produced developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford.

According to initial information, the flames originated on the second floor, in a construction site of the large structure, for reasons that have not been clarified.

“The vaccine production facility has not been affected,” a source at the complex said.

“We have sent six or seven fire trucks to the scene. At the moment, we have no other information on the extent of the fire or if anyone has been trapped,” added a station official. local fire department.

Pharmaceutical AstraZeneca had contracted with the Serum Institute of India to produce 1 billion doses of the coronavirus vaccine for developing countries, including India itself.

Currently, the Asian country is the second most affected country by Covid-19, behind the United States, with more than 10 million reported cases, although its death rate is one of the lowest in the world.

In early January, two vaccines were approved there: Covishield, developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, produced by the Serum Institute of India; and Covaxin, manufactured by the local company Bharat Biotech.

India launched one of the world’s most ambitious vaccination campaigns on Saturday, to immunize 300 million people until July.

Fuente AFP

AFG