Hyderabad: Nearly 50 million doses of Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin mendacity with the agency are set to run out early subsequent yr as there are not any takers owing to poor demand, firm sources mentioned. Due to a scarcity of product demand, the Production stoppage of Covaxin- a two-dose jab, was initiated by Bharat Biotech earlier this yr, although the vaccine maker has established manufacturing to succeed in an annualized capability of 1 billion doses by the finish of 2021.
“Bharat Biotech has greater than 200 million doses of Covaxin in bulk kind and roughly 50 million doses in vials prepared to make use of. Due to lack of product demand, manufacturing stoppage of Covaxin was initiated a number of months in the past, earlier this yr,” sources advised PTI.
“Covaxin doses in vials are set to run out throughout early 2023, leading to losses for the corporate,” sources additionally mentioned.
However, the quantum of loss that Bharat Biotech would incur within the occasion of all of the 50 million doses expiring subsequent yr is just not recognized.
India reported 1,082 recent COVID-19 instances on Saturday, whereas the variety of energetic instances declined to fifteen,200, in line with Union well-being ministry information.
So far, 219.71 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines, together with Covaxin have been administered during the nationwide vaccination drive.
As the infection price has been sturdily declining globally, exports of Covaxin had been negatively impacted by poor offtake by international nations.
In April this yr, the World Health Organization (WHO) mentioned it confirmed the suspension of the availability of Covaxin by way of UN procurement companies and beneficial that nations utilizing the vaccine take motion as acceptable.
A press release issued by WHO then mentioned the suspension is in response to the result of its post-EUL (emergency use authorization) inspection held between March 14- 22, 2022, and the necessity to conduct a course of facility upgrades to deal with not too long ago recognized GMP (good manufacturing apply) deficiencies.
When the COVID-19 infection was at its peak in 2021, the Brazilian authorities suspended its determination to import 20 million doses of Covaxin following an issue that attracted investigation by authorities in that nation.
Bharat Biotech on July 23, 2021, mentioned it terminated the MoU it entered into with Precisa Medicamentos and Envixia Pharmaceuticals LL.C for its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin for the Brazilian market.
In December 2021, Bharat Biotech mentioned, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has authorized the extension of its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin’s shelf life as much as 12 months from the date of manufacture.
