Moderna expected to launch single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India in 2022

US biotech firm Moderna is expecting to launch its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India next year.

As per reports, the firm is in talks with Cipla among other Indian firms.

Another US giant Pfizer is ready to offer 5 crore shots in 2021 itself but it wants significant regulatory relaxations including indemnification, a report says.

While Moderna has conveyed to the government of India that it does not have surplus vaccines to share in 2021, there are limited prospects of Johnson & Johnson exporting its jabs from the US to other countries in the near future, the report added.

Two rounds of high-level meetings chaired by the Cabinet Secretary were held last week on the availability of vaccines in the global as well as domestic markets.

Two rounds of high-level meetings chaired by the Cabinet Secretary were held last week on the availability of vaccines in the global as well as domestic markets

Currently, India is using two 'made-in India' jabs -- Covishield and Covaxin -- to inoculate its billion-plus population and has administered 20 crore doses since launching the vaccination drive in mid-January.

A third vaccine, Russian-made Sputnik V, has been approved by the government and is being used on a smaller scale at present.

Cipla has reportedly already evinced interest in procuring 5 crore doses from Moderna for 2022 and has requested confirmation from the central government in respect of stability in regulatory requirements/policy regime.

In the case of Pfizer, the US pharma giant has indicated availability of 5 crore vaccine doses -- 1 crore in July, 1 crore in August, 2 crore in September and 1 crore in October --for supply to India in 2021.

The US firm will deal only with Government of India and payment for vaccines will have to be made by GOI to Pfizer India.