(ANSA) - ROME, FEBRUARY 21 - The head of the Indian Serum Institute, the world's largest producer of vaccines by volume, has asked the governments of other countries who are waiting for supplies to "be patient" because priority will be given to India .
"I humbly ask you to have patience because our institute's efforts are aimed at satisfying the gigantic needs of India and, at the same time, at finding a balance with the rest of the world", wrote Adar Poonawalla on Twitter, according to the Guardian.
The company, which is based in the western city of Pune, is producing the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine, one of two that India will use to immunize its population of 300 million from Covid-19.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been criticized for the slow start of its divaccination campaign but health authorities are preparing to accelerate in the coming weeks.
India has vaccinated around 11 million people since mid-January.
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