Vaccine testing lab in Hyderabad to be ready soon

Hyderabad: In a major new year boost for Telangana and a development that will complement the State’s position as the vaccine capital of the world, the new Vaccine Testing Laboratory (VTL) set up at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Gachibowli, is expected to commence operations in about two months. This is only the […]

Hyderabad: In a major new year boost for Telangana and a development that will complement the State’s position as the vaccine capital of the world, the new Vaccine Testing Laboratory (VTL) set up at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Gachibowli, is expected to commence operations in about two months. This is only the second VTL in the country, after Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh with a third lab coming up in Pune.

The lab has been set up by the Department of Biotechnology at a cost of about Rs 10 crore under the PM CARES Fund.

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The VTL at NIAB has already started testing several vaccine batches. There are some Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the vaccines are tested for different protocols as different companies manufacture different types of vaccines, an official from NIAB told Telangana Today.

Stating that experienced staff were working at VTL and ensuring compliance of vaccine batches for different testing parameters, he said the results are being matched with the guidelines and in some cases, manufacturers have been asked for additional details and protocols. “The lab will be equipped to test about 60 to 70 batches a month,” he said.
“Going by the pace of development, the VTL at Hyderabad should commence regular operations in two to three months,” the official added.

Last year, the Centre had announced VTLs for Hyderabad and Pune following several appeals by the Telangana government for the lab.

Emphasising the need for a VTL in Hyderabad, Industries Minister K T Rama Rao wrote three letters to the Central government including one to then union Health Minister Harshvardhan in June 2021 and his efforts paid off, the official said.

Rama Rao, pointing out that Hyderabad had emerged as the vaccine capital of the world, had said companies were sending their vaccines for testing to the Kasauli VTL which was resulting in loss of valuable time in approvals. Establishment of a VTL in Hyderaad would help in production of 8 to 10 crore vaccines a month, Rama Rao said in his letters, adding:

“I assure that the State government will extend all support for setting up the vaccine centre on a fast track.”

Post the production of Covid vaccine, emphasis is now on booster doses, and at this juncture, commencement of operations at VTL, Hyderabad, augurs well for the manufacturers as more vaccine batches can be released without delays.

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