Approval of another laboratory for batch-testing of Covid-19 vaccines and issuance of vaccines.
The National Institute of Animal Biotechnology in Hyderabad can now test the quality of Covid-19 vaccines and issue vaccines
The decision is aimed at strengthening the vaccine supply chain and launching the largest vaccination campaign.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Government is making continuous and untiring efforts to improve the production, supply and administration of Covid-19 vaccines. In a significant move to speed up vaccination, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved another laboratory to test the Covid-19 vaccine and issue a vaccine consignment.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has authorized the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) as the Central Drug Laboratory (CDL) to test and issue the Covid-19 vaccine.
A meeting was held on 11 November 2020 under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary to discuss various aspects of Covid-19 vaccine distribution in India. The meeting also asked the Ministries and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to inform the Ministry of Health whether any of their laboratories could be used as CDL.
After proper discussion, the Department of Biotechnology had proposed two laboratories, NIAB and National Center for Cell Sciences (NCCS), Pune. Funding was provided by the Prime Minister’s Care Fund Trust (PM-CARES) to upgrade these two laboratories.
The Central Drugs Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) had submitted a draft notification to the Union Ministry of Health to notify NIAB, Hyderabad as CDL Laboratory, to which the Union Ministry of Health has now notified NIAB, Hyderabad as CDL Laboratory.
It may be mentioned that NCCS, Pune has been notified as CDL Laboratory by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 28th June 2021.
The notification of these two laboratories as CDL Laboratories will improve the production of vaccines and consequently strengthen the vaccination campaign.
