The manufacturing cost of medicine/vaccine is dependent of factors such as development cost, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) cost, technology, vaccine platform & scale of production in different companies.

Department of Biotechnology has informed that under “Mission COVID Suraksha- the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission”, being implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of DBT, facility augmentation of Bharat Biotech and 3 Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) including Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation Ltd, Mumbai; Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL); Hyderabad; Bharat Immunologicals Biologicals Corporation Limited (BIBCOL), Bulandshahr; is being supported, for augmented production of Covaxin. Further, Technology transfer of Covaxin production to Gujarat COVID Vaccine Consortium (GCVC), comprising Hester Biosciences, OmniBRx Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd and Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre(GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Gujarat; is being facilitated by the Department of Biotechnology, with a view to enhance the production of Covaxin in the coming months.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has provided 100% advance to domestic vaccine manufacturers in respect of procurement order placed with them. These funds can be used by such manufacturers for their capacity augmentation. Government has also provided financial assistance to one of the vaccine manufacturer i.e. M/s Biological E for ‘At-risk manufacturing’ of COVID-19 vaccine.

Further, the Central Drug Standards and Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has put in place a system for fast track processing of application for clinical trial & approval for COVID-19 Vaccines.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has ensured improved accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccination services for eligible beneficiaries irrespective of their socio-economic status. This has been done through increase in vaccination centres, citizen friendly upgradation of Co-WIN establishment of 24x7 national call center helpline to address queries from general public on COVID-19 and the vaccination process.

Government of India is also providing 15 days advance visibility of vaccine availability to States/UTs with an advice to prepare and publicize in advance district-wise and COVID-19 Vaccination Centers wise (CVCs) plan for accelerating the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination and for convenience of citizens. Further, a communication strategy is in place which is being implemented across all States/UTs with a focus to sustain vaccine confidence and address vaccine hesitancy. Accessibility to vaccination is being facilitated by involving Private CVCs, workplace CVCs & ‘Near to Home’ CVCs. Government of India regularly reviews the progress of National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme with all States/UTs to expedite its progress.

Government of India has made all arrangements to secure COVID-19 vaccines for the eligible beneficiaries as per production and the availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the country. It is expected that adequate quantity of COVID vaccine will be available between January 2021 to December 2021 to vaccinate eligible beneficiaries aged 18 years and above.

This information was given by the Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.