Applauding Prime Minister Modi on behalf of the entire industry, Mr Adar Poonawalla, said the new policy is a decisive step. He added that the Centre's new policy allowing all adults to get inoculated for Covid-19 and extending financial aid to the drug-making industry will help vaccine production and distribution in the country. Mr Poonawalla welcomed the change in approach.

As per the new policy Vaccinations are opened up by the central government for all above 18 from May 1.

The Centre has also given 100 percent advance to India's early Covid vaccine manufacturers (SII and Bharat Biotech) till July. The advance is estimated at Rs3,000 crore for the Serum Institute (Covishield) and Rs 1,500 crore for Bharat Biotech (Covaxin). This is seen as a step that will ensure that the two companies get necessary funding to continue and scale up production.

States can also now buy doses directly from vaccine-makers in the "liberalised and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination". 

The Centre's decision came a day after the country reported 2.73 lakh new daily cases in the highest spike since the pandemic broke out in India over a year ago reported by NDTV

"I'd like to applaud Shri Narendra Modi Ji," tweeted Mr Adar C Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India (SII) after the Central Government announced new Vaccine policy on April 19.