Covaxin and 9 other vaccines to be produced from Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Jan 25: Production of Covaxin from Odisha is going to see the light of the day soon. Bharat Biotech’s new start-up at Andharua near Bhubaneswar gears up to switch on its vaccine plant very shortly. Not only the Corona vaccine Covaxin but also the plant will produce another nine life saving vaccines. Government of Odisha was keen to manufacture Covaxin from the land. Accordingly,Bharat Biotech International Ltd.(BBIL) came forward to establish its vaccine manufacture unit in Odisha. Basing on the intent expressed by the Bharat Biotech, the then Chief Secretary  Asit Tripathy had allowed it to install its incubator plant In Odisha. Accordingly, the Odisha government allotted land for the vaccine plant at Andharua near Bhubaneswar.  On December 10, the Managing Partner of BBIL Richas Virendra Dev laid the foundation stone and announced to invest a working capital of Rs 500 crore for the startup. Meanwhile, the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure   Development Corporation (IDCO) has already alienated the earmarked land to BBIL for the project. Odisha Law department has formally approved the plant. The Pollution Control Board has also accorded permission for the upcoming plant. The health department has permitted to produce vaccines for malaria, cholera, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, SARs, influenza, pandemic influenza, rotavirus and staphylococcus aureus along with Covaxin.