A high profile panel including the WHO's chief scientist and ministers of Norway and South Africa discussed critical dimensions pertaining to coronavirus vaccines and risks of a “pandemic within a pandemic” with the emergence of  SARS-CoV-2 variants. Funding gaps at the ACT Accelerator and extending the shelf life of vaccines were also deliberated.

Multiple COVID-19 vaccines, including from RDIF and Novavax, could get accelerated approvals in India in the first half of calendar 2021, expanding the range at the country’s disposal. J&J's vaccine is expected to follow although it still hasn’t begun local trials, while Pfizer has temporarily withdrawn an application.

Heads of vaccines development at partners GSK and Sanofi:“This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”

Johnson & Johnson has added a manufacturing base in India’s Biological E as part of a global supply chain for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. While Biological E will make 400-500 million dosages for the US firm, it has licensed for development another SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate from US-based Baylor College of Medicine.