Dr V.K. Paul, a key adviser to the Centre on the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed on Thursday that the government had held discussions with the makers of Covaxin, Bharat Biotech, on the possibility of roping in other companies to make the vaccine.
"People say that Covaxin should be given to other companies for manufacturing. I am happy to say that Covaxin-manufacturing company (Bharat Biotech) has welcomed this when we discussed it with them," Paul, a member of the NITI Aayog, was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Paul told NDTV, "Under this vaccine, a live virus is inactivated and this is done only in BSL3 (Biosafety Level 3) labs. Not every company has this. We give an open invitation to companies who want to do this. Companies that want to manufacture Covaxin, should do it together. The Centre will assist so that capacity is increased."
Paul revealed Bharat Biotech has reached out to public sector undertakings (PSUs) to ramp up production of Covaxin.
Last month, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under Mission COVID Suraksha, spelt out a plan to ramp up production of Covaxin and double it by May-June by roping in three PSUs.
The PSUs are Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation Ltd, Mumbai, a PSU under the Maharashtra government; Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), Hyderabad, a facility under National Dairy Development Board, and Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Limited, Bulandshahr, a PSU of the department of biotechnology.
The statements by Paul came after Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claimed Bharat Biotech had informed the Delhi government it could not supply additional doses of the vaccine as the Centre was deciding on allocation of doses.
"We refute (the charge) that there is any pressure on anybody not to supply to any particular state," he said, adding that such charges affect the morale of vaccine manufacturers. "It is because of them that we are in the position of not asking others (countries for vaccines)," Paul said.
Bharat Biotech on Wednesday had said it is quite disheartening to listen to some states complaining about Bharat Biotech's intentions regarding supply of Covaxin.
