The World’s Largest Coronavirus Vaccine Manufacturing Facility Caught a Massive Fire, but Authorities Claim No Damage Was Done to The COVID-19 Vaccine Area
A fire broke out at a building under construction at the Serum Institute of India on Thursday. Officials claim at least five people are dead in the incident. The Serum Institute of India is under contract to produce about 50 million doses a month of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine.
Although the fire filled the sky with smoke, authorities claim that the fire will not affect the production of the vaccine.
At least five people are dead after a large fire broke out at the site of the world’s largest vaccine producer. The factory is located in western India.
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Images showed black smoke coming from a building which was still under construction at the Serum Institute of India’s facilities in the city of Pune. The fire got under control, but officials later told that five people were dead.
The chairman and CEO of the Serum Institute of India expressed his sorrow on the loss of lives and extended his condolences towards the families of the departed.
We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed.
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 21, 2021
Murlidhar Mohol, mayor of Pune city, said the bodies found in the rubble after the fire was extinguished were likely construction workers. There is some construction also going on at the premises of the factory. The cause of the fire is unclear at this time.
50 Million COVID-19 Vaccines in the Works
Serum Institute of India is under contract to produce about 50 million doses a month of the coronavirus. These vaccines are from Oxford University and Astrazeneca at other facilities on the company’s complex. In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Poonawalla said he’s aiming to increase production from 1.5 billion doses to 2.5 billion annually. He aims to do this by the end of 2021. The facility under construction was part of the expansion. Poonawalla said the fire will not affect the production of the coronavirus vaccine, known locally as Covishield.
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He further went on to assure the government about the COVID-19 vaccine production. He says it will not take any effect because of the fire. Prime Minister of India Mr. Nirender Modi is of the opinion that India will provide vaccine for the whole of India. In addition, he believes India will also export it to the whole world.
I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia. Thank you very much @PuneCityPolice & Fire Department
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 21, 2021
India recently approved the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine for emergency use earlier this month along with another developed in the country. Approval for the AstraZeneca shot in the U.S. appears to be imminent.
