India is all set to get its first Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine doses from next month a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday that the doses are filled and finished in India by a partner of the US drugmaker.
As many as 43.5 million doses of the single-shot vaccine in October India could receive said the source. This is a big step for India to meet its target of manufacturing more than 300 million doses in the month.
India is the world’s biggest centre of vaccine manufacturing and once it has met its own needs it plans to recommence exports, which it stopped in April.
Last month India’s drug gave emergency authorisation to the J&J vaccine whether imported or locally filled and finished by J&J’s Indian partner, Biological E.
However, any supply deal with J&J has not been signed by the Indian government yet.
“J&J doses are expected from next month,” said the source, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to talk to the media. “Bio E will do the formulation and make 5 ml vials.”
India’s health ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A J&J India spokesperson said it was “premature for us to speculate on the timing of our vaccine deliveries”
