Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday spoke to Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla over a video call and expressed happiness that it had partnered with Oxford University to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.

Patnaik sought his cooperation to keep Odisha a priority for vaccination once necessary clearances are obtained.

He congratulated Poonawalla on the promising results of the vaccine trials published in medical journal The Lancet.

Poonawalla said in India, the next phase of trials will start in mid-August. The vaccine will be ready by October-November, he added.

He said Serum Institute and the Odisha government can carry forward the collaboration once the vaccines are cleared and ready.

Poonawalla later tweeted, “Pleasure talking to Naveenji. I look forward to extending support to the state of Odisha for all its vaccination needs.”