A top government official on Thursday said that the central government and Covaxin-maker Bharat Biotech are now willing to invite other companies to produce the vaccine in a step to scale up its production. This comes as India is facing a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines and many states have rolled back or temporarily stopped the vaccination of people aged 18-44. 

NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul said, “People say that Covaxin should be given to other companies for manufacturing. I am happy to say that Covaxin manufacturing company (Bharat Biotech) has welcomed this when we discussed it with them,” quoted NDTV. 

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“Companies that want to manufacture Covaxin, should do it together. The Centre will assist so that capacity is increased,” VK Paul said. 

Earlier on Thursday, the Centre announced that 210 crore vaccines, which will be enough to cover all Indians, will be available in the nation by the end of 2021.

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The central government also announced an extended gap between the first and second dose of Covishield, made by Pune-based Serum Institute in collaboration with Oxford-Astrazeneca, to 12 weeks from six weeks. 

India’s second wave of COVID-19, where the nation is recording over 300,000 cases daily and the single-day deaths have breached the 4,000-mark, is accompanied by a shortage in vaccines. 

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Amid the vaccine shortage, the Narendra Modi-led government opened up vaccinations of adults, aged 18-44, from May 1.