Centre should float global tenders for Covid vaccines, not states: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has urged the central government to float global tenders for Covid-19 vaccines instead of states procuring them individually.
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File photo of Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain (Photo Credits: PTI)
HIGHLIGHTS
Covaxin, Covishield are being sold at varying prices to Centre, states and private hospitals
SII, Bharat Biotech must share vaccine formula with all Indian manufacturers: Satyendar Jain
Central government should float global tenders for Covid-19 vaccines instead of states floating them individually, said Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain. This was among many of the issues raised in a meeting with Union Health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Jain told the media during a press conference on Thursday.
NEW DELHI: Amid the reports of coronavirus vaccine shortage from various states, the Central government and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech are willing to invite other companies which want to produce COVAXIN in a bid to scale up the vaccine production, said NITI Aayog member, Dr VK Paul, on Thursday.
However, Dr Paul also stressed that COVAXIN can only be produced in the Biosafety level 3 (BSL3) labs. 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. Under this vaccine, a live virus is inactivated and this is done only in BSL3 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, Dr Paul said.
Read more about Centre, Bharat Biotech willing to invite other firms to produce Covaxin on Business Standard. However, Dr Paul stressed that Covaxin can only be produced in the Biosafety level 3 (BSL3) labs.
Vaccine Makers Invited To Produce Covaxin To Address Shortage Vaccine Makers Invited To Produce Covaxin To Address Shortage The statement came on a day when the government announced it hoped to have more than 200 crore doses of coronavirus vaccines between August to December this year.
Covaxin is currently produced by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.
Highlights
Several states have complained of severe vaccine shortage
India hopes to have 200 crore doses by the end of the year
New Delhi:
The central government and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech are willing to invite other companies which want to produce Covaxin to help scale up its production, a top government advisor said on Thursday, as India grapples with a dire shortage of coronavirus vaccines.
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New Delhi, May 13
The Centre on Thursday approved extending the gap between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks following a recommendation from a government panel, and said it is a “science-based decision” taken with confidence that there will be no extra risk.
However, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has suggested no change for the dosage interval for Covaxin, the Union health ministry said.
“Based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from the UK, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. No change in interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended,” the ministry said.