SII, Bharat Bio seek central fund injection to ramp up vaccine production

SII, Bharat Biotech want to increase production to meet domestic, foreign demand

As demand for Covid vaccines grows here and abroad, the two main vaccine manufacturers — the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech — are learnt to have sought financial aid from the government to help them ramp up capacities rapidly.

The SII has been selling Covishield to the government at a cost price of $2-2.5 per dose. With demand rising as other countries wait impatiently for deliveries or place fresh orders, the SII has sought funds to increase its Pune plant’s capacity.  

Sources in the know said both manufacturers have sought funds in excess of Rs 150 crore under the