Covishield, Covaxin production to be ramped up by 4.3 crore doses a month: Mandaviya in RS

Monthly production of Covishield projected to increase to 12 crore doses, Covaxin to 5.8 crore doses: Mansukh Mandaviya

The monthly production capacity of Covishield is projected to be increased to more than 12 crore doses and of Covaxin to around 5.8 crore doses by December, the government told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, citing information from the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was responding to a question on the current capacity to manufacture Covaxin and Covishield in the country, and the expected capacity going forward from August to December 2021.

Also Read | CDSCO expert panel recommends nod to study on mixing doses of Covaxin, Covishield

"As communicated by the manufacturers, the monthly vaccine production capacity of Covishield is projected to be increased from 11 crore doses per month to more than 12 crore doses per month and the production capacity of Covaxin is projected to be increased from 2.5 crore doses per month to around 5.8 crore doses per month," the minister said in a written reply.

Further, the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology launched 'Mission Covid Suraksha - the Indian Covid-19 Vaccine Development Mission'.

The mission is being implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, a public sector undertaking of the Department of Biotechnology, the reply stated.

Also Read | Covaxin shortage due to quality issues at newest plant: Govt task force expert

Under the mission, the facility augmentation of Bharat Biotech and one state public sector enterprise and two central public sector enterprises - Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation Ltd, Mumbai; Indian Immunologicals Limited, Hyderabad, and Bharat Immunologicals Biologicals Limited, Bulandshahr, - for production of Covaxin have been supported.

In addition, technology transfer of Covaxin production to the Gujarat Covid Vaccine Consortium, including Hester Biosciences and OmniBRx Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd, led by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, had also been facilitated, the reply said.

Further, the Centre had also extended financial assistance to one of the domestic manufacturers for 'at-risk manufacturing', advance payment against the supply orders placed with the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, besides streamlining regulatory norms for approval of vaccines, the reply added.