Mumbai-based Haffkine Institute gets Centre nod to produce Bharat Biotech’s anti-COVID vaccine ‘Covaxin’

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The Centre has given the go-ahead for the Maharashtra government-owned Haffkine Institute to manufacture Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, on a transfer of technology basis. The decision is part of the strategy to step up the availability of vaccines in the country.</p>
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The Maharashtra government made the announcement regarding the approval through their official Twitter handle.</p>
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"The Dept of Science and Technology, Government of India, has granted approval to Haffkine Institute to produce Bharat Biotech''s Covaxin vaccine on a transfer of technology basis," the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office tweeted.</p>
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"CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has thanked Prime Minister for approving this request," it said.</p>
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had earlier requested the centre to allow the Haffkine Institute to produce Covaxin.</p>
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Covaxin is an indigenous Cvoid-19 vaccine developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Hyderabad-based private pharma company Bharat Biotech.</p>
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With over 26.02 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses administered till 8 pm on Thursday, the cumulative doses against the coronavirus administered in the country have crossed 11.74 crores.</p>
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Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in the country with 61,695 new COVID-19 cases and 349 deaths in the last 24 hours.</p>
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According to figures released by the Maharashtra health department, the total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 36,39,855, including 29,59,056 recoveries and 59,153 deaths.</p>