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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School Of Public Health Awards Highest Honour To Dr. Cyrus S Poonawalla
Dr. Poonawalla has been felicitated with Dean’s medal for his lifelong contribution with this honor, reserved for luminaries demonstrating exceptional leadership in safeguarding, improving public health.
National, 23 May 2022 - The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health awarded the Dean's Medal to Serum Institute of India (SII) Chairman, Dr. Cyrus S Poonawalla for his outstanding work in developing and delivering affordable vaccines and contributing to the Indian biosciences industry for decades now. The honor was presented to Dr. Poonawalla during the Convocation ceremony held on May 21, 2022. Past award winners include social justice advocate Cheryl Dorsey, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Laurie Garrett and former Baltimore Health Commissioner Leana Wen.
Founding the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune in 1966, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla’s foresight has helped SII achieve global leadership in terms of production with 4 billion doses annually. SII had partnered early on with UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO). Its measles vaccine supply to UNICEF and PAHO between 1990 to 2016 has prevented 22 million deaths.
Gratified with this honor, Dr. Cyrus S Poonawalla, Chairman, Serum Institute of India (SII) said, “It is a proud moment for me to receive this prestigious award by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Over the years, our constant endeavor has been to provide high-quality vaccines with regular supplies, which ensure excellent immunization coverage to children and families worldwide at an affordable, sustainable price points. This award is a motivation for SII to take up bigger challenges ahead and fortifies our objective of inclusive healthcare for all.”
A biotech company, SII has been working towards the ‘right of high-quality and affordable healthcare for children’ through immunization for over six decades with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations on universal vaccination to reduce childhood mortality. Protecting more than two--thirds of the global infant population, SII’s vaccines has resulted in an estimated saving of 30 million lives.
Today, SII’s vaccine portfolio includes Polio vaccine, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella as well as Pneumococcal and Covid-19 vaccines. SII is credited with bringing world-class technology to India, supplying the world's cheapest vaccines to as many as 171 countries.
During the devastating pandemic, SII brought international institutes and governments together to collaborate and build innovation-driven solutions. Through strategic foresight and at-risk manufacturing, SII produced 1.9 billion doses and supplied 1.65 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. Fostering an R&D ecosystem of change and growth in vaccine development, SII has enabled equitable access for LMIC’s to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines, with a capacity to produce 250 million doses per month.
About SII (Serum Institute of India) Driven by the philanthropic philosophy of affordable vaccines; Serum Institute of India Pvt, Ltd. (SIIPL) is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally (more than 1.5 billion doses), supplying the world's cheapest and WHO accredited vaccines to as many as 170 countries. It was founded in 1966 with the aim of manufacturing lifesaving immunobiological drugs including vaccines worldwide. With a strong commitment towards global health, the institute’s objective has been proliferated by bringing down the prices of newer vaccines such as such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines. SII is credited with bringing world-class technology to India, through its state-of-the-art equipped multifunctional production facility in Manjri, Pune; association with Zipline and government agencies to transform emergency medicine and critical care along with spearheading the race of vaccine development against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Mayank Sen
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