Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed about indigenous COVID-19 vaccine at the Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad. After his brief visit to the Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad, he congratulated the scientists’ team for their progress in the trials so far. In a message, the PM said the Bharat Biotech team is closely working with ICMR to facilitate speedy progress. He left for Pune later.

Earlier, he visited the vaccine development and manufacturing laboratories of Bharat Biotech and interacted with senior scientists and others. He has been briefed about the progress made so far relating to manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine, called Covaxin. It may be recalled that the BBIL has taken up the manufacturing of the vaccine in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The SARS-CoV-2 strain for the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine candidate was isolated in the Pune Based ICMR- National Institute of Virology and transferred to BBIL. Currently the phase-III clinical trials of the Covaxin are underway by involving over 25 thousand volunteers in 22 states across the country.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Hakimpet Air Force Station near Hyderabad on his second leg of 3-city visit this afternoon. He has been welcomed by State Chief Secretory Somesh Kumar, State DGP Mahender Reddy Medchal Malkajgiri Collector Swetha Mohanthy among other senior officials.