Saudi Arabia to get AstraZeneca vaccines in a week from India: report

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The Serum Institute of India (SII) will supply Saudi Arabia with 3 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses, priced at $5.25 each, in about a week on behalf of the British drugmaker, Reuters reported, citing SII chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla.

The SII, however, has no immediate plans to divert supplies to Europe, even though AstraZeneca has come under pressure from the EU to deliver more shots after announcing a big cut in shipments due to production problems at a Belgian factory.

The world’s biggest vaccine manufacturer, SII, partnered with AstraZeneca, the Gates Foundation and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (Gavi) to make up to a billion doses for poorer countries.

Poonawalla said the doses destined for Saudi Arabia would be shipped in a week or 10 days.