After two Indian vaccine makers, Serum Institute of India and Cadila Healthcare joined the fight against COVID-19, Bharat Biotech may follow suit. Others like Hilleman have decided against it for the moment while Panacea Biotech is weighing the pros and cons of developing a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine after a sour experience with H1N1.

The leadership of top Indian firms recounted at the IPA Forum how they got together on a joint 45-minute call daily in the early phase of the pandemic to collaborate and ensure uninterrupted supplies of medicines both in India and globally. The executives also shared views on telemedicine and digitalization trends at the event.

Experts including renowned virologist Peter Piot, FDA’s Peter Marks and CEPI’s Richard Hatchett discussed multiple dimensions pertaining to coronavirus variants and existing vaccines at a recent conference, noting enhanced post-deployment surveillance is underway in the US. While there’s no need to panic for every variant that emerges, equitable access to vaccines is critical to ensure that gains made over last year are not undone, they said.