Centre places order for 30 crore doses of Biological E's COVID-19 vaccine amid 2nd wave

In a key development on Thursday, Health Ministry announced that it h placed orders to procure 30 crore doses of Biological E's COVID-19 vaccine. Founded in 1953, Hyderab-based company develops, manufactures and supplies vaccines and rapeutics. An vance payment of Rs.1500 crore will be me by Ministry to Biological E which will manufacture and stockpile aforesaid quantity of vaccine doses from August to December 2021. This is expected to boost India's vaccination drive which has slowed down in some states owing to a paucity of doses. 

A Union Health Ministry statement re, "Biological-E COVID Vaccine candidate has been supported by Government of India from Preclinical stage to Phase-3 studies. Department of Biotechnology has not only provided financial assistance in terms of grant-in-aid of over Rs.100 cr but has also  partnered with Biological-E to conduct all animal challenge and assay studies through its Research Institute Translational Health Science Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridab. This has been undertaken as part of Government of India's ‘Mission COVID Suraksha- Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission’ which was launched to reinforce and accelerate COVID-19 vaccine development efforts as part of third stimulus package, Atmanirbhar 3.0."

vaccine being developed by Biological-E is an RBD protein sub-unit vaccine and is likely to be available in next few months. Its phase 1/2 clinical trials conducted in about 360 healthy subjects aged between 18 and 65 showed that it is safe and immunogenic. At present, it is undergoing Phase 3 trials which entail around 1268 healthy subjects in age range of 18-80 years at 15 sites across country. Earlier in May, Biological E h announced that it will also produce  Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at its manufacturing plant in India. 

COVID-19 vaccination in India

From May 1 onwards,  Centre relaxed age bar for COVID-19 inoculation and allowed  vaccine manufacturers to supply 50 per cent of its doses to state governments and in open market. While some states managed to commence vaccination for 18-44 age category, governments of Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka have suspended this drive owing to a paucity of doses. Special emphasis has been laid on those aged above 45 who are waiting for second dose of vaccine. So far, both Moderna and Pfizer have refused to supply vaccines to states emphasising y will deal only with Centre. 

A total of 17,29,54,223 persons have been inoculated in India whereas 4,39,12,907 of m have received second dose of vaccine too.  Union government has asserted that over 216 crore doses of vaccines will be manufactured in India between August and December this year. This includes COVISHIELD (75 crore doses), COVAXIN (55 crore doses), Bio E Sub Vaccine (30 crore doses), Zydus Cila DNA vaccine (5 crore doses), SII-Novavax (20 crore doses), BB Nasal Vaccine (10 crore doses), Genova mRNA vaccine (6 crore doses) and Sputnik V (15.6 crore doses).