India to produce 259 cr doses of COVID vaccines by end of 2021

Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday said that India will produce 259 crore doses of various Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2021.

He said that by the end of December, the monthly production of Covid vaccines will go up to 59 crore doses and asserted that the Centre is making all efforts to ramp up vaccine production in the country.

In a talk with reporters after visiting a government-run ENT Hospital in Hyderabad, the union minister said that 16 companies will manufacture the vaccines in the country.

He also said that three companies have already started production while some more will start manufacturing by August-September.

In order to meet the demand, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin formula has been shared with five other companies which will manufacture the vaccine, he said.

A total of seven companies in India will be manufacturing the Russian vaccine while Dr Reddy's Laboratories will manufacture Sputnik V under a pilot.

He said Biological E will soon start production of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine in the country. "If Johnson & Johnson vaccine comes, one dose will be enough. Other vaccines will be available in two doses while Zydus Cadila's vaccine will have three doses," he said.

Reddy also revealed that the Centre has made arrangements for the production of 8.80 crore vaccines in May. This number will go up to 10 crores in June, 17 crores in July, 19 crores in August and 42 crores in September.

"The production will be ramped up further to 46 crores in October and 56 crores in November. By December the monthly production of vaccines will be 59 crores," he said.

The minister said the government would ensure the vaccination of as many people as possible by the end of this year.