Govt supports augmentation of Covaxin production

The Centre is providing financial assitance to various domentis firms to increase the production of Covaxin. The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India in April, 2021 provided financial support as Grant to vaccine manufacturing facilities for enhanced production capacities, which is expected to reach more than 10 crore doses per month by September, 2021. As a part of this augmentation plan, capacities of Bharat Biotech Limited, Hyderabad as well as other public sector manufactures are being upgraded with required infrastructure and technology. Financial support is being provided as grant from GoI to the tune of approx.  Rs 65 Cr to Bharat Biotech’s new Bangalore facility which is being repurposed to increase the capacity of vaccine production.

According to information three  more public sector companies are also being supported to increase the capacity of vaccine production. Mumbai based Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation Ltd, a state PSU, has been give a sum of Rs  65 crores as grant from GoI  to make it ready for manufacturing. The facility will have a capacity of 20 million doses per month, once functional. Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), Hyderabad –A facility under National Dairy Development Board is being provided a grant of Rs. 60 crore and Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Limited (BIBCOL), Bulandshahr in UP, is being supported with a grant of Rs. 30 crores to prepare their facility to provide 10-15 million doses per month. Further, Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Science and Technology Govt.  of Gujarat along with Hester Biosciences and OmniBRx has also firmed up its discussions with Bharat Biotech to scale up the COVAXIN technology and to produce minimum 20 million doses per month. Technology transfer agreement have been finalized with all manufacturers.