Amid spike in Covid-19 infections, Bharat Biotech to boost vaccine production

According to reports, Bharat Biotech will increase the production of Covid-19 vaccine at its existing facilities. Besides, it is in talks with Delhi-based Panacea Biotech to enter into joint production agreement.

Hyderabad: As India hit by a much severe Covid-19 infections wave than what it witnessed last year, the city-based pharmaceutical major Bharat Biotech International is gearing up to increase the production of Covaxin.

According to reports, the company will increase the production at its existing facilities and will also enter into joint production agreements with other companies to meet the growing demand for Covid-19 vaccine.

“The company is in discussion with Delhi-based Panacea Biotech to start production at the latter’s facility,” says a report.

At present, the vaccine is being manufactured at the company’s Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) standard plant in the Hyderabad Genome Valley located on the outskirts of the city.

The reports further suggest that Bharat Biotech has chosen Panacea as the company has a facility of the same standard (BSL-3).

Besides, Bharat Biotech is planning to use its Bengaluru facility for the production of Covaxin. At present, the plant is being used for manufacturing of vaccines meant for animals.

Covaxin is the only Made In India vaccine to get the government’s approval for inclusion in the ongoing vaccination drive that began on January 16.

Last January, Bharat Biotech announced that it had been developing an intranasal vaccine ‘BBV154’ against Covid-19 infection.

Growing Covid-19 infections

According to a release by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday, India has added 1.45 lakh cases in the last 24 hours taking the total case load to over 1.32 crore.

With this, the number of active cases has breached the 10-lakh mark again after nearly seven months.

According to the release, 794 deaths were reported in the last twenty hours due to Covid-19 infection.

At present, people above 45 years of age are allowed for vaccination against Covid-19.

Since the last week, India Inc has been demanding the government to expand the ongoing vaccination drive to above 18-year age to mute the impact of the Covid-19 second wave on the economy.