Andhra CM Jagan writes to PM Modi seeking to transfer Covaxin’s technology to capable firms
13 May 2021 12:12:29
Chennai, May 13: Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking technology transfer of Bharat Biotech and ICMR-NIV developed Covaxin to ramp up production.
“It is learned that the present manufacturing capacity of Covaxin doesn’t cater to the country’s requirement. It may take several months to get everyone vaccinated," he said.
Reddy added that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) should provide the viral strain to all interested vaccine manufacturers. “We would request you to please direct Bharat Biotech to please do the technology transfer of manufacturing the Covaxin and ICMR-NIV to provide the viral strain to whoever interested and capable of producing the vaccine,” the chief minister wrote in the letter.
Reddy also requested the Prime Minister to transfer the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Covaxin to vaccine manufacturers so production and inoculation both can be ramped up, as the present manufacturing capacity of Covaxin does not cater to the country's vaccination requirements.
"It may take several months to get all vaccinated at this pace. Please explore the possibility of involving all such production firms and enable them with the technology, intellectual property rights to deliver the vaccine as quickly and as affordable as possible," he wrote.
