<p>The Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, is planning to start vaccine production in other countries as it struggles to meet supply commitments, its chief executive officer told The Times.</p>.<p>"There's going to be an announcement in the next few days," Adar Poonawalla was quoted as saying by the newspaper in an interview published on Friday.</p>.<p>Poonawalla said last week that the Serum Institute would be able to raise its monthly output to 100 million doses by July, later than a previous timeline of end-May. Several states in India have run out of vaccines against Covid-19.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/who-gives-emergency-use-listing-to-modernas-covid-19-vaccine-981106.html">WHO gives emergency use listing to Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine</a></strong></p>.<p>He hoped to increase the Serum Institute's production capacity from 2.5 billion to 3 billion doses a year within six months, the Times reported, adding that he flew to London before Britain banned travellers from India eight days ago.</p>.<p>Coronavirus cases and deaths have surged in India as the world's second-most populous country has reported more than 300,000 new infections daily for nine consecutive days, hitting another global record of 386,452 on Friday.</p>.<p>The surge has led to a public health crisis and forced the government to seek oxygen, medicines and other essentials from abroad.</p>.<p>The nation's coronavirus cases may peak between May 3-5, according to scientists advising the government.</p>.<p>Some health experts said India became complacent when new cases were running at about 10,000 a day and the novel coronavirus seemed to be under control. Authorities lifted restrictions, allowing the resumption of large festivals and political rallies.</p>
<p>The Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, is planning to start vaccine production in other countries as it struggles to meet supply commitments, its chief executive officer told The Times.</p>.<p>"There's going to be an announcement in the next few days," Adar Poonawalla was quoted as saying by the newspaper in an interview published on Friday.</p>.<p>Poonawalla said last week that the Serum Institute would be able to raise its monthly output to 100 million doses by July, later than a previous timeline of end-May. Several states in India have run out of vaccines against Covid-19.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/who-gives-emergency-use-listing-to-modernas-covid-19-vaccine-981106.html">WHO gives emergency use listing to Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine</a></strong></p>.<p>He hoped to increase the Serum Institute's production capacity from 2.5 billion to 3 billion doses a year within six months, the Times reported, adding that he flew to London before Britain banned travellers from India eight days ago.</p>.<p>Coronavirus cases and deaths have surged in India as the world's second-most populous country has reported more than 300,000 new infections daily for nine consecutive days, hitting another global record of 386,452 on Friday.</p>.<p>The surge has led to a public health crisis and forced the government to seek oxygen, medicines and other essentials from abroad.</p>.<p>The nation's coronavirus cases may peak between May 3-5, according to scientists advising the government.</p>.<p>Some health experts said India became complacent when new cases were running at about 10,000 a day and the novel coronavirus seemed to be under control. Authorities lifted restrictions, allowing the resumption of large festivals and political rallies.</p>