Congress Attacks Govt for BIBCOL’s Shutdown, Warns of Eroding Vaccine Capabilities
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th July. The Congress party slammed the government on Friday over the reported decline of Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Limited (BIBCOL), alleging that shutting down vaccine public sector units (PSUs) undermines the country’s capabilities.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted a media report claiming that BIBCOL’s Bulandshahr facility, once a key player in India’s fight against polio, has not produced a single vaccine since December 2022.
Ramesh, who was involved in the establishment of BIBCOL in the late 1980s under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s initiative, expressed dismay over its current state. He criticized the government’s lack of action to revive the facility, which, he claimed, has led to unpaid workers and halted production despite the facility’s potential to produce Covaxin during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The non-biological PM visited Bulandshahr for his election campaign but failed to address the need for reviving the plant,” Ramesh said, reflecting on the government’s neglect.
He emphasized the importance of strong domestic vaccine manufacturing capabilities, especially highlighted during the devastating second wave of COVID-19. “The crisis during the second wave, which led to significant loss of life, was exacerbated by the lack of effective vaccine mobilization and poor government strategy,” Ramesh added.
The Congress party warned that continuing to shut down vaccine PSUs will further erode India’s vaccine production capabilities, undermining the nation’s preparedness for future health crises.
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