Vet institute offers to provide vaccine manufacturing facility

The Bengaluru-based Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals has five vaccine production units that can help produce 10 to 25 crore doses a year

Amid shortage of COVID-19 vaccine as the country faces the second wave of infections, Bengaluru-based Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAH&VB) has offered to provide its state-of-the-art vaccine production facility to produce it. The premier institute’s vaccine production facility, located on its Hebbal campus in Bengaluru, is considered to be one of the best in the country. Presently it is the only facility in the country for producing vaccine for Kyasanur Forest Disease, commonly known as monkey fever. It also produces four veterinary vaccines. Institute director S.M. Byre Gowda told The Hindu that it would take nearly a year to set up an entirely new vaccine production facility right from scratch. In such a scenario, using the institute’s facility would save time and help in meeting the demand for vaccine.