Need manufacturer to improve its facilities, inspection deficiencies: UN
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that it has suspended supply through United Nations agencies of Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, produced by India’s Bharat Biotech, to allow the manufacturer to upgrade facilities and address deficiencies found in an inspection.
The Hyderabad-based vaccine maker has committed to address deficiencies in good manufacturing practices and is developing a corrective and preventive action plan, the WHO said, without specifying when the suspension will be lifted.
The WHO also asked countries that have received the vaccine to take appropriate actions, according to the statement, but did not specify what the appropriate actions would be. The WHO said the vaccine is effective and no safety concerns exist, but the suspension of production for export will result in the interruption of Covaxin supply.
It said the suspension is in response to the outcomes of WHO post emergency use listing (EUL) inspection conducted from March 14 to 22, and the vaccine maker has indicated its commitment to suspend production of Covaxin for export.
Bharat Biotech on Friday said it will temporarily slow down production of Covaxin across its manufacturing facilities as it had completed supply obligations and expected a decrease in demand.
As per the Government statistics, more than 308 million doses of Covaxin have been administered across India.