Since states face an acute shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, the central government on Wednesday permitted the proposal of Bharat Biotech to build a new plant of Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Limited (BIBCOL) in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr.
According to some reports this new PSU would manufacture 2 crore doses of Covaxin every month and the central government would offer Rs 30 crore to BIBCOL for this project.
Remarkably, BIBCOL in Bulandshahar was established in 1989 and it manufactures oral polio vaccines and other immunisers.
There has been an extensive shortage of vaccines in India, consequently, some states have postponed vaccination drive for people aged between 18-44. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on Wednesday said that the people under the age of 45 won’t get Covaxin shots from Thursday as limited stocks are left for the following four days.
Maharashtra too determined to temporarily append its drive to vaccinate people in the age group of 18 to 44 over shortage of jabs, and divert the available stock of doses for the above-45 age group.
In the meantime, Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech have submitted to the Centre their production proposal for the next four months, updating they could accelerate it to 10 crore and 7.8 crore doses respectively by August, stated by official sources.
The sources added the Union Health Ministry and the office of Drugs Controller General of India had sought from both the companies their production plan for June, July, August and September.
