New Delhi: The current production capacity of Bharat Biotech-developed COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’ will be doubled by next month and increased nearly 6-7 folds by July-August 2021.
According to the Union Ministry of Science & Technology, the capacities of Bharat Biotech and other public sector manufacturers are being upgraded with relevant infrastructure and technology.
As part of its augmentation plan, the government is providing financial support of Rs 65 crore to Bharat Biotech’s new Bengaluru facility.
Among the other public sector companies the Centre will support to ramp up capacity of vaccine production are Indian Immunologicals Limited (Hyderabad), a facility under National Dairy Development Board, and Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Limited (BIBCOL), Bulandshahr.
They are expected to provide 10-15 million doses per month by August-September 2021.
Maharashtra government-owned Haffkine Institute in Mumbai, which has the capacity to produce 20 million doses per month, and 22 crore doses annually, had asked for around 12 months deliver. The Centre has, however, asked it to expedite the process and complete the task within six months.
