Bharat Biotech to make two crore doses of Covaxin per month at UP plant

LUCKNOW:

Amid the acute shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, the Central government on Wednesday confirmed the recommendation of Bharat Biotech to set up a new plant of Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Limited (BIBCOL) in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, for producing two crore doses of Covaxin per month.

According to reports, the Central government will grant Rs. 30 crore to BIBCOL for this initiative.

BIBCOL, founded in 1989 in Bulandshahr, is known for manufacturing oral polio vaccines and other immunisers.

India is facing a widespread scarcity of vaccines, resulting in the discontinuation of vaccination drive for people under the age of 45, despite the Central government announcing that people of the 18-44 age group would receive vaccination beginning May 1.  

Several governments, such as that of Delhi and Maharashtra, have temporarily suspended their vaccination drive for the age group of 18-44 over shortage of jabs. This was done to divert the available stock of doses for the above-45 age group.

Meanwhile, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech have presented their production plan for the next four months to the centre, for manufacturing up to 10 crores and 7.8 crore doses respectively by August, official sources stated on Wednesday.

(Edited by Ridhika Joshi)

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