Poonawalla is the only official spokesperson, SII says after executive criticises Indian govt | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
May 30, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025
Poonawalla is the only official spokesperson, SII says after executive criticises Indian govt

South Asia

Hindustan Times
23 May, 2021, 04:40 pm
Last modified: 23 May, 2021, 04:42 pm

Related News

  • India develops its first cervical cancer vaccine
  • Indian vaccine giant Serum plans African plant in global expansion
  • Omicron-specific booster shot possible: SII CEO Adar Poonawalla
  • Serum Institute to resume supply of Covishield to Covax: Reports
  • India rules out reducing gap between Covishield doses

Poonawalla is the only official spokesperson, SII says after executive criticises Indian govt

"Serum is committed to maximise its Covishield production and it stands shoulder-to-shoulder to strengthen the government's fight against Covid-19," the company also added

Hindustan Times
23 May, 2021, 04:40 pm
Last modified: 23 May, 2021, 04:42 pm
The Serum Institute was founded by Adar Poonawalla's father Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966 Photo: Reuters
The Serum Institute was founded by Adar Poonawalla's father Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966 Photo: Reuters

Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla is the only official spokesperson of the company, the world's largest vaccine maker has clarified after its executive director Suresh Jadhav was found to be a little critical of the Indian government's vaccination drive.

Speaking at an online health summit, Jadhav said the government began vaccinating people from multiple age groups without taking into account the availability of stocks. He also said that the government did not consider WHO guidelines, as reported by news agency PTI.

Serum Institute has made it clear that this is not the view of the company.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"On behalf of our CEO Adar C Poonawalla, I want to inform you that this statement is not issued on behalf of Serum Institute of India Private Limited and the Company completely dissociates itself from this statement. It is reiterated that this is not the view of the company at all," Prakash Kumar Singh, director of government and regulatory affairs at Serum wrote in a letter to the health ministry, PTI reported.

It also mentioned that Adar Poonawalla is the only official spokesperson of the company.

"Serum is committed to maximise its Covishield production and it stands shoulder-to-shoulder to strengthen the government's fight against Covid-19," the letter said.

Jadhav said the government started the vaccination drive knowing well that it did not have adequate stock. Initially, 300 million people were to be administered the vaccine for which 600 million doses were required, but before that target was reached, the vaccination drive was opened to non-priority groups, including people above the age of 45 years and then people above the age of 18 years, he said. "That is the greatest lesson we learnt. We must take into account the availability of the product and then use it judiciously," he said.

The government in April approved advanced payment of Rs4,500 crore to both Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech so that they can ramp up their production. Out of this Rs4,500 crore, Serum received Rs3,000 crore from which Adar Poonawalla thanks PM Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Serum Institute has been the centre of several controversies in recent days. After the Centre allowed state governments and private hospitals to directly procure vaccines from the manufacturers, Serum courted controversies over selling the vaccines at different rates to the Centre and the state governments. After the rates were revised, Adar Poonawalla said in an interview he was under immense pressure and was facing unprecedented aggression over the vaccine.

Top News / World+Biz

Serum Institute of India (SII) / Adar Poonawalla

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas and other senior party leaders pay tributes at the grave of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman at Chandrima Udyan in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on 30 May 2025. Photo: BNP Media Cell
    Only Yunus doesn’t want polls, says Mirza Abbas slamming CA for 'slandering BNP'
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during a question-answer session at the 30th Nikkei Forum in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, 29 May 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Just one particular party wants election in December: CA Yunus
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus with officials of Bangladesh and Japan during the signing of MoUs on the sidelines of a seminar titled 'Bangladesh Business Seminar' in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, 29 May 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Bangladesh, Japan sign six MoUs

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Courtesy
    New notes featuring historic, archaeological structures of Bangladesh to be circulated from 1 June
  • Two Memoranda of Understanding were signed at the seminar titled “Bangladesh Seminar on Human Resources,” in Tokyo on 29 May 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Japan to recruit 100,000 Bangladeshi workers over next 5 years
  • Representational Photo: Collected
    Country's all jewellery shops to remain indefinitely closed in protest of VP Reponul's arrest: Bajus
  • BAT Bangladesh has to vacate Mohakhali HQ as SC rejects lease appeal
    BAT Bangladesh has to vacate Mohakhali HQ as SC rejects lease appeal
  • Illustration: TBS
    Bangladesh repays $3.5b foreign debt in 10 months of FY25
  • Khondoker Rashed Maqsood. File Photo: Collected
    Investors urge removal of BSEC chairman in meeting with CA’s special assistant, submit list of demands

Related News

  • India develops its first cervical cancer vaccine
  • Indian vaccine giant Serum plans African plant in global expansion
  • Omicron-specific booster shot possible: SII CEO Adar Poonawalla
  • Serum Institute to resume supply of Covishield to Covax: Reports
  • India rules out reducing gap between Covishield doses

Features

Photo collage of the sailors and their catch. Photos: Shahid Sarkar

Between sky and sea: The thrilling life afloat on a fishing ship

2h | Features
For hundreds of small fishermen living near this delicate area, sustainable fishing is a necessity for their survival. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

World Ocean Day: Bangladesh’s ‘Silent Island’ provides a fisheries model for the future

18h | The Big Picture
The university will be OK. But will the US? Photo: Bloomberg

A weaker Harvard is a weaker America

18h | Panorama
The Botanical Garden is a refuge for plant species, both native and exotic. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

The hidden cost of 'development' in the Botanical Garden

18h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Record migrant deaths in 2024

Record migrant deaths in 2024

15h | Podcast
News of The Day, 29 MAY 2025

News of The Day, 29 MAY 2025

17h | TBS News of the day
Businesses set for relief as interim govt eyes major tax & fine cuts

Businesses set for relief as interim govt eyes major tax & fine cuts

20h | TBS Insight
Love is essential for human life

Love is essential for human life

19h | TBS Programs
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net