Refutingrumour spread by some social media posts, the Central government on Wednesdayclarified that Covaxin, India's indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, does not containnewborn calf serum at all.
"Therehave been some social media posts regarding composition of the Covaxin vaccinewhere it has been suggested that it contains the newborn calf serum. Facts havebeen twisted and misrepresented in these posts," said the Ministry.
"NewbornCalf Serum is used only for preparation or growth of vero cells."
Notingthat different kinds of bovine and other animal serum are standard enrichmentingredient, and they are used globally for vero cell growth, the Ministry saidvero cells are used to establish cell lives which help in production ofvaccines.
Thistechnique has been used for decades in Polio, Rabies, and Influenza vaccines.
Thesevero cells, after the growth, are washed with water, with chemicals (alsotechnically known as buffer), many times to make it free from the newborn calfserum. Thereafter, these vero cells are infected with corona virus for viralgrowth.
"Thevero cells are completely destroyed in the process of viral growth. Thereafterthis grown virus is also killed (inactivated) and purified. This killed virusis then used to make the final vaccine, and in the final vaccine formulation nocalf serum is used."
Hence,the Ministry said, the final vaccine Covaxin does not contain newborn calfserum at all and the calf serum is not an ingredient of the final vaccineproduct.
Covaxinis India's first indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by BharatBiotech. It is being used on adults in India's ongoing Covid-19 vaccinationdrive since January 16 this year.