The current production capacity of Bharat Biotech indigenously developed Covaxin vaccine will be doubled by May-June 2021 and then increased nearly 6-7 fold by July-August 2021, the Government said on Friday.
The Union Ministry of Science and Technology issued a statement in this regard, saying “the current production capacity of indigenously developed Covaxin vaccine will be doubled by May-June 2021 and then increased nearly 6-7 fold by July-August 2021 — that is increasing the production from 1 crore vaccine doses in April 2021 to 6-7 crore vaccine dose by July-August. It is expected to reach nearly 10 crore doses per month by September this year”.
It said the Government will provide financial support as a grant to vaccine manufacturing facilities for enhanced production capacities.
Recently, inter-ministerial teams visited the sites of two main vaccine manufacturers in India to get their inputs on how production can be ramped up. There have been extensive reviews and feasibility studies on the plans being discussed with vaccine manufacturers.
“As a part of this augmentation plan, capacities of Bharat Biotech Limited, Hyderabad as well as other public sector manufacturers are being upgraded with required infrastructure and technology. Financial support is being provided as a grant from the Government to the tune of appx Rs 65 cr to Bharat Biotech’s new Bangalore facility which is being repurposed to increase the capacity of vaccine production,” the statement added.
Three public sectors companies are also being supported to increase the capacity of vaccine production.
These are Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation Ltd , Mumbai -a State PSE under Maharashtra Government is being provided financial support as a grant for this facility to be made ready for manufacturing.
“The Haffkine Biopharmaceuticals Ltd had asked for around 12 months to complete this task. However, the Central Government has asked them to expedite and complete the task urgently within 6 months. The facility will have a capacity of 20 millions doses per month, once functional,” as per the statement.
Similarly, Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), Hyderabad - a facility under National Dairy Development Board, and Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Limited (BIBCOL), Bulandshahr a CPSE under Department of Biotechnology will also be supported to prepare their facility to provide 10-15 million doses per month by August - September 2021.