India's Serum Institute says prioritising domestic vaccine needs, asks for patience as Covid-19 total is almost 11 million

A medical worker inoculates a medical staff with a Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination centre in New Delhi on February 20, 2021. - AFP

NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (Reuters): Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's biggest vaccine maker by volume, on Sunday asked for patience from foreign governments awaiting their supply of COVID-19 shots, saying it had been directed to prioritise India's requirements.

"...I humbly request you to please be patient," SII's Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla said in a tweet https://twitter.com/adarpoonawalla/status/1363346341275967488, adding the company "has been directed to prioritise the huge needs of India and along with that balance the needs of the rest of the world."