Dr. Sandeep Rathod, MD of the Parel-based Haffkine institute said that the first batches of the COVID-19 vaccine will be delivered by April 2022
In a bid to ramp up the vaccination drive, the Centre on Thursday gave a go-ahead to Mumbai’s Haffkine Institute to produce ‘Covaxin’, the indigenous vaccine made by Bharat Biotech, on a “transfer of technology basis”. The approval was announced by Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray late last night.
“The Dept of Science and Technology, Government of India, has granted approval to Haffkine Institute to produce Bharat Biotech”s Covaxin vaccine on a transfer of technology basis,” the Maharashtra Chief Minister Office’s official handle tweeted.
The Dept of Science & Technology, Government of India, has granted approval to Haffkine Institute to produce Bharat Biotech's Covaxin vaccine on a transfer of technology basis. CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has thanked the Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi for approving this request.
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) April 15, 2021
In January, Haffkine sought the ICMR’s nod for technology transfer. In March, it reiterated its request and said that in case it is not granted permission to manufacture the vaccine, it can ‘fill and finish’ operations of the Covid vaccine, where it will only fill vaccines in bottles and make them ready for dispatch.
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State-owned Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation is one of the oldest biomedical facilities in the country and also has experience in vaccines like polio.
it will take a minimum of one year (April 2022) to deliver the first batches of the COVID-19 vaccine
Dr sandeep rathod, md, haffkine institute
Dr. Sandeep Rathod, MD of the Parel-based institute said that it will take a minimum of one year (April 2022) to deliver the first batches of the COVID-19 vaccine. The institute can produce close to 23 crore does annually.
The grim situation in Maharashtra continues with the state reporting 61,700 cases on Friday with several complaints of bed shortage, lack of vaccine, and oxygen supply.
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