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Bharat Biotech Chairman Explains the Limitations of Injectable COVID Vaccines; Is It Safe?


Bharat Biotech Chairman Explains the Limitations of Injectable COVID Vaccines; Is It Safe?
SHARES

With concerns about coronavirus vaccines and reinfections currently making the rounds in some circles, the Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, Krishna Ella has issued clarifications on how the vaccines actually work against the virus. 

He said that injectable vaccines are designed to protect only the lower lung and not the upper lung. He further said that the likelihood of getting infected with COVID-19 even after two shots of the vaccine cannot be fully ruled out. He stressed that this highlights the need to continue masking and maintain social distancing even after vaccination. 

Also readOver 44 Lakh Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine Wasted In India Until April 11

He said that this is the case with all injectable vaccines, clarifying that the vaccine will prevent the virus from becoming serious or lethal. 

India is currently facing its largest COVID-19 caseload since the pandemic began last year. Some states are also facing a scarcity of oxygen with private and central entities pitching in to help. Additionally, several regions were reporting a shortage in remdesivir, an approved drug for treating some COVID-19 patients. Officials have said that manufacturing of remdesivir has been amped up to meet demand. 

ReadCentre Allows Maharashtra Govt Owned Haffkine Institute To Manufacture Covaxin

The Union Government has decided to open up vaccinations for all over the age of 18 starting May 1. Bharat Biotech is the sole manufacturer of Covaxin and has said that it will produce 30 million vials of the vaccine in May, a significant increase in production compared to March and April 2021. A statement by the company said that it has expanded its production capacity to have up to 700 million doses of the vaccine per year.

Increasing the production of vaccines is the only way to keep up with the ambitious vaccination drive proposed by the Centre. Keeping this in mind, vaccine manufacturers have been asked to fulfil the demand of individual states. The third phase of the vaccination drive will also allow states to purchase vaccines directly from the manufacturers. 

Also readMumbai: Use Of Covaxin Up By 258 Per Cent, Informs BMC

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