Multilateral bodies must join hands to deal with future outbreaks: SII CEO

Vaccine maker Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has called for global harmonisation or regulatory standards and said that cooperation among multilateral organisations is a must for dealing with future outbreaks.

Speaking during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023, he said he is optimistic about the cooperation.

As several leaders here warned against any complacency on the Covid front, Poonawalla said, "We need to keep educating people and dispel vaccine hesitancy".

Serum Institute of India (SII) emerged as one of the largest vaccine makers in the world during the pandemic.

Poonawalla pitched for advancing vaccine equity and global harmonisation of regulatory standards to allow vaccine manufacturers to make a better real-time impact.

"Today, we go through a WHO approval process, you don't want every individual country asking for their own process and clinical trials. We have to be able to accept one level of standard," he added.

Poonawalla said he is hopeful th