On 15th September, 2021, Time Magazine announced its annual list of ‘The 100 Most Influential People of 2021’, which featured CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII), Adar Poonawalla, alongside PM Narendra Modi and a few other Indians.

As per news reports, Adar Poonawalla had earlier in the year shared how he didn’t wish to “have regrets when history judges my actions,” with journalist Abhishyant Kidangoor. But this year presented a series of issues – a fire at his plant in Pune; challenges in securing necessary raw materials; and a vaccine export ban amid India’s second wave of COVID-19 – which decelerated his efforts, leaving many nations scrambling to find alternate sources of vaccines.

SII manufactures the Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, which has been jointly developed by the Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Covishield was the first vaccine to get EUA (Emergency Use Authorisation) in India, in January. SII is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, in terms of doses produced and sold. SII has almost doubled production of Covid-19 vaccines since May and is adding newer vaccines – including Novavax and Russia’s Sputnik V – to its portfolio in the coming months.

Kidangoor added, “The pandemic is not over yet, and Poonawalla could still help end it. Vaccine inequality is stark, and delayed immunization in one part of the world can have global consequences—including the risk of more dangerous variants emerging… Whether Poonawalla can right the ship this time will determine which side of history he falls on – and, more importantly, how quickly the world emerges from the pandemic.”

The Time Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ list is divided into 6 categories – Pioneer, Artist, Leader, Icon, Titan and Innovator. Each category highlights personalities from across the world. The list is considered as one of the most powerful and trustworthy lists. Every entry is handpicked by editors of the magazine for their extraordinary work in the following year, and appearing on the list is considered an honour for the respective personality. It has featured personalities including US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan, and former US President Donald Trump.