Vaccine Update: 2 PSUs Given Technology To Produce Covaxin

New Delhi: Pulled up by Opposition and the judiciary for shortage of vaccines in the country, the Union government is going all out to ramp up COVID-19 vaccines so that the entire eligible population gets the jab at the earliest.

One of the steps taken by the Centre is to grant technology to PSUs to produce Covaxin.

The Bharat Biotech-developed desi vaccine can now be produced by two PSUs — Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), BIBCOL, and state-owned Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited.

These two PSUs have entered into a technology transfer agreement with Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, actively promoted and assisted by the Indian Government.

“The Union Government has also extended substantial financial assistance to all the above 3 undertakings,” a Central government release stated.

According to a Times Now report, Haffkine Institute can produce 22 crore doses per year. It will start production of Covaxin from November 2021.

Indian Immunologicals Limited is expected to start production of Covaxin from September 2021.

The Centre had, in April, approved production of vaccines from Maharashtra government-owned Haffkine Institute in Mumbai.