Maharashtra gets nod to produce Covaxin at Haffkine

On Wednesday the Maharashtra government requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow the state to manufacture the Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech at Mumbai's Haffkine Institute.

On Wednesday the chief minister of Maharashtra Uddav Thackeray raised the issue in PM's Covid-19 review meet. Thackeray sought for a technology transfer under the Mission Covid security from Bharat Biotech to Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation limited one of the country's oldest premier biomedical research facilities.

Thackeray said ''If the technology transfer happens, either vaccine can be produced at Haffkine or they can work on a 'fill and finish' arrangement. Nearly 126 million doses can be manufactured at the Haffkine facility''.

Public health minister Rajesh Tope who attended the meeting and later spoke to the press said that PM Modi was positive about the suggestion.

Tope said,'' The state will also demand 25% of the doses produced at Haffkine which be reserved for the state''.Thackeray has also demanded that more vaccination centres be permitted in the state and also to allow vaccination to all those who are 45 years and below.