Mumbai's Haffkine Institute bags approval to produce COVAXIN, ensuring steady supply of COVID shots

In a major step to ramp up vaccine production amid the COVID-19 second wave, the Centre has approved the production of coronavirus vaccines at the Maharashtra government-owned Haffkine Institute in Mumbai. This will effectively augment a stronger defence against the deadly coronavirus, assuring a steady supply of COVID shots to foster a better immunogenic response in Mumbai and other critically affected regions.

Mumbai boosts vaccine defence against COVID rise

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After repeated requests, Maharashtra has finally received the Union's formal nod to produce the COVID-19 vaccine domestically. The approval came late on Thursday night, which now enables Haffkine Institute to produce Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN for one year, under a technology transfer agreement.

As per claims, Haffkine Institute has the capacity to produce 22-crore doses annually, which would immensely help the country's ongoing vaccination drive, flooded with complaints of vaccine shortages. Simultaneously, it will also help the state to achieve its target to immunise 6 to 7 lakh people against the coronavirus.

The Health Minister also informed that Maharashtra needs 40 to 45 lakh vaccine vials every week to attain the said goal. A widespread vaccination drive will notably help to curb the COVID-19 cases and nip its growth, he added.

BMC ensures a seamless supply of oxygen

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, on Thursday, stated that it has appointed 6 officers as oxygen coordinators in Mumbai. This move will ensure the seamless supply of medical oxygen for the treatment of critical coronavirus patients. In another significant step towards COVID management, the civic body has stated that it will add up to 2,000 more hospital beds to shoulder the active caseload here.

As yet, this count stands at 84,753 cases with the addition of 8,209 fresh infections in the last 24 hours. The data records of the Health Department noted a boosted recovery count on Thursday, marked at 10,021. About 4,55,293 patients have recovered from the COVID clutches in Mumbai so far. Meanwhile, 50 deaths have pushed the count of fatalities to 12,197; the highest across Maharashtra.