The Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune, is the world’s largest vaccine maker. It produces 1.5 billion doses of various vaccines, mostly for developing countries. Half the world’s children have been vaccinated with its products. Today it is unique in another way: it is set to mass-produce a vaccine against Covid-19, even before its clinical trials end.

   The vaccine has been developed by the Oxford University, England and has shown promise of effective immunity in preliminary trials. Besides Serum Institute, Biological E, Bharat Biotech, Indian Immunologicals and Mynvax are developing one vaccine each while Zydus Cadila is working on two, according to Dr. Gagandeep Kang, executive director of the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad. Kang is also vice chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

A gamble

   It is a gamble for SII because a vaccine takes....