Pune-based pharmaceutical company Serum Institute of India (SII) launched India's first indigenously developed pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 'Pneumosil' on Monday. The vaccine was launched by Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. The pneumococcal vaccine is being developed by Pune-based pharmaceutical company Serum Institute of India in collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Health Minister said that Pneumosil is an example of India's capability in research and development and developing important vaccines. Seeing the high mortality rate, the World Health Organization, in 2018 recommended the inclusion of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in routine childhood immunisation programmes in all countries.

Source: dna December 29, 2020 11:20 UTC