Bharat Biotech visit in Hyderabad: PM Modi tracks Covid-19 vaccine

HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited vaccine maker Bharat Biotech’s facility at Genome Valley in Hyderabad on Saturday afternoon as part of his three-city tour to review the progress in the ongoing Covid-19 vaccine development efforts in the country.
The PM spent well over an hour at Bharat Biotech, where he interacted with the company’s top brass, including its chairman and managing director Dr Krishna Ella, as well as scientists involved with the development of Covaxin, India’s first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine that is being developed by the Hyderabad-based vaccine maker.
Senior Bharat Biotech management made a detailed presentation to the PM on the work being done by Bharat Biotech and the progress on Covaxin, after which he proceeded to the auditorium to interact with scientists involved working on Covaxin.
The Phase III trials of Covaxin, involving over 26,000 volunteers at 25 sites across the country, kicked off earlier this month. The first and second phase of human trials at Covaxin involved around 1,000 volunteers. Bharat Biotech had earlier indicated that going by the results of Phase I and II trials, Covaxin's efficacy is expected to be well over 60%.
According to sources, unlike the Zydus Cadila facility, Modi did not have a very detailed plant tour as the Bharat Biotech Covid-19 vaccine lab and manufacturing plant is a Bio Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) facility.
“At the Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad, was briefed about their indigenous COVID-19 vaccine. Congratulated the scientists for their progress in the trials so far. Their team is closely working with ICMR to facilitate speedy progress,” Modi tweeted after wrapping up his tour of the Bharat Biotech facility.
Bharat Biotech too tweeted from its official handle about the high-profile visitor. “An extremely memorable day for Bharat Biotech to have Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri PM Narendra Modi, visit our campus. He commended BBIL’s efforts towards COVAXIN and congratulated the progress COVAXIN thus far (sic),” it said.
"The Prime Minister’s visit serves as a great inspiration to our team, and further reinforces our commitment towards scientific discovery, solving public health issues, and the nation’s fight against COVID-19," the company said in a press communique after the visit.
A release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) later in the day said the PM undertook an extensive review of the vaccine development and manufacturing process during his three-city tour and expressed pride in the fact that India’s indigenous vaccine development has progressed at such a rapid pace.
“He spoke on how India is following sound principles of science in the entire journey of vaccine development, while also asking for suggestions to make the vaccine distribution process better,” the PMO said.