The government is planning to accelerate Covaxin’s production to six-seven crore doses a month by July-August
Bengaluru: As the number of coronavirus cases increases across India, Economic Times reports that the government is planning to accelerate Covaxin’s production to six-seven crore doses a month by July-August.
It adds further that the government is mulling two more places – Hyderabad and Uttar Pradesh – to set up production facilities.
Funds to the tune of Rs 120 crore are also being planned.
“There have been discussions at the highest level to support ramping-up the production of Bharat Biotech’s capacities across Hyderabad as well as for upgrading other companies under consideration with required infrastructure and technology,” the website quoted an official as saying.
Presently, Bharat Biotech manufactures Covaxin only at its plant in Hyderabad at a rate of 0.5 crore doses a month.
Government sources add that the production capacity will be increased to 10 crore doses by September.
India has also approved the use of Sputnik-V vaccine.
it becomes the third vaccine – after Covaxin and Covishield – to be put in use if Drugs Controller General of India green-lights it.
In India, it is produced by Dr Reddy’s. OpInida adds that Dr Reddy’s is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Here are some traits of the new vaccine:
1. It has shown an efficacy of 91.6% efficacy in its Phase 3 trials.
2. Sputnik-V is named after the world’s first satellite sent by the Soviet Union. It was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology along with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
3. It can be stored at a temperature of 2 to 8 degree Celsius. The website adds that the vaccine is equally efficacious across all age groups.
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