From the Editors Desk

Heartiest Congratulations, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla!

Dear Readers,

It was indeed a moment of great joy and pride for the community to know that Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla was felicitated with the prestigious Padma Bhushan award by the Government of India, on the eve of Republic Day. The third highest civilian award of the nation after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan is awarded for “distinguished service of a high order”, which makes our trailblazing Dr. Poonawalla, only overly deserving of the same, in keeping with his consistently comprehensive contributions, not just to the nation, but to the whole world, as the Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of the globally renowned Serum Institute of India (SII), which produces the vital Covishield Vaccine.

Under Dr. Poonawalla’s excellent leadership and vision, SII has developed and produced numerous life-saving vaccines at economical rates globally, especially in the times of Covid, where SII has catapulted India as a major vaccine provider to the world. SII tops the world as the largest vaccine manufacturer, in terms of volumes produced. Dr. Poonawalla’s extraordinary legacy of ‘Health For All With Affordable Vaccines’ has resulted in an estimated 65 per cent of children globally, from across 170 nations, receiving at least one vaccine manufactured by the nation’s foremost biotech company!

His philanthropic philosophy is focused on making live-saving vaccines affordable and available to all our fellow Indians as well as the underprivileged children worldwide, so they are protected adequately from death and disease. The effort and achievement of this noble endeavour is beyond awards – it is God’s work. And it fills our hearts with deep appreciation, gratitude, respect and pride in the man –Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla – who keeps not just the Parsi flag, not even just the Indian flag, but the flag of Humanity fluttering high! On behalf of the community, we wish him Heartiest Congratulations!

Have a good weekend!

– Anahita