Centre Seals Deal For Second Made-In-India Vaccine, Buys 30 Crore Doses From Hyderabad's Biological-E

The Centre has finalised a deal with Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer, Biological-E and has placed an advance order of 30 crore vaccine. The doses will be manufactured and stored by Biological-E from August to December 2021, says the Health Ministry.

Covid Vaccine Update: In order to meet a strict vaccination target, the government has reserved 30 crore doses of Hyderabad-based Biological-Covid E's vaccine, which is still in clinical trials. The Health Ministry will make a 1,500-crore advance payment to the company for what will be the country's second made-in-India vaccine, following Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

The doses will be manufactured and stored by Biological-E from August to December and are expected to be available "in the next few months," says the ministry.

The move comes amid widespread criticism of the Centre's vaccination policy, which fell short when India was hit by a second wave of Covid in March-April. The government had to halt Covid shot exports under its "Vaccine Maitri" programme and scramble to obtain more doses to address the country's shortage. The slow roll-out has become a major source of concern, with experts predicting the third wave of Covid.

After showing promising results in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, Biological-COVID-19 E's vaccine is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials, said the government in a statement. 

The government also stated that the Department of Biotechnology provided 100 crores in financial assistance to Biological-E’s shot as well as partnering with the company to conduct various studies.

According to the statement, this is part of the government's mission to support five or six new COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

Apart from Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield, Russia's Sputnik V will soon be used to vaccinate people as the government races to meet a target of one crore vaccinations per day by August. It is also in discussions with foreign manufacturers such as Pfizer and Moderna, who have insisted on an indemnity clause.

The centre said, “The arrangement with Biological-E is part of the wider endeavour of Government of India to encourage indigenous vaccine manufacturers by providing them support in Research & Development (R&D) and also financial support”.

Biological-E's indigenous was recommended for endorsement by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 or NEGVAC.