Lok Sabha Question No. 446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-21
Subject: Vaccines for Emerging Pathogens
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shankar Lalwani, Arvind Kumar Sharma, Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH RESEARCH

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 446 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST JULY, 2023

## VACCINES FOR EMERGING PATHOGENS

## 446. SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA:

DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps being taken by the Government to speed up the development of vaccines for "emerging/ reemerging pathogens";
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government to promote the development and production of vaccines for diseases like polio, smallpox and measles;
- (c) the State/UT-wise number of vaccine research centres/institutes functional in the country at present;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of such vaccine research centers/institutes;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (PROF. S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) to (f): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has collaborated with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Korea for exploration of available vaccine candidates against World Health Organisation (WHO) blue print priority pathogens and the feasibility of bringing the available technology to India.

ICMR has been designated as the secretariat for National Authority for containment (NAC) of polio viruses. ICMR has approved the following proposals for development of polio vaccines:

- (i) nOPV2 fill and finish & Sabine S19 IPV manufacturing at Biological E, Hyderabad.
- (ii) Establishment of polio essential facility (PEF) for setting up Sabine IPV manufacturing facility at Reliance life science Pvt Ltd.
- (iii) Establishment of polio essential facility (PEF) for setting up Sabine IPV manufacturing facility at Bharat Biotech International Ltd.

It has been informed by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) that along with its industry academia interface agency, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), has facilitated strengthening of ecosystem for vaccine development, through various schemes/programmes including Mission programmes such as the National Biopharma Mission, Mission Ind-CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) and Mission COVID Suraksha.

DBT has also taken steps to streamline Biosafety Regulation whereby, a 'Rapid Response Regulatory Framework for COVID-19 Vaccine Development' was issued. An online portal, i.e., 'Indian Biosafety Knowledge Portal' has also been launched, for online submission, processing and approval of applications. Further, the frequency of the meetings of the 'Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM)' has been increased, whereby, the meetings are held every fortnight.

The following ICMR Institutes are currently working on different aspects of vaccine research and development:

- (i) ICMR National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, Maharashtra
- (ii) ICMR National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT), Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- (iii) ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- (iv) ICMR National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research (NARFBR), Hyderabad, Telangana
- (v) ICMR National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata, West Bengal
- (vi) ICMR Headquarters, New Delhi

DBT has informed that its three Autonomous Institutes, namely, National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi; Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, Haryana; and Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneshwar, Odisha have established facilities for development of animal models and assays for vaccine research.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has informed that its subordinate offices namely, Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh; BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Guindy, Tamil Nadu; and Institute of Serology, Kolkata, West Bengal are involved in vaccine related activities. CRI, Kasauli deals with manufacturing of immuno-biologicals such as DPT group of vaccines and anti-sera, therapeautic antisera and bacterial diagnostic reagents. BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Guindy deals with manufacture of BCG vaccine and Institute of Serology, Kolkata manufactures VDRL antigen and anti-sera.

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