Covaxin's final product has no calf serum, Bharat Biotech and govt clarify

Health ministry says this has been used for decades in Polio, Rabies, and Influenza vaccines, is neither used in growth of SARS CoV2 virus nor in the final formulation

The Government on Wednesday clarified that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin does not contain newborn calf serum at all and that the calf serum is not an ingredient of the final vaccine product. Amid the controversy, Bharat Biotech also clarified that new born calf serum is used in the manufacturing of viral vaccines.

A Health ministry statement explained that the newborn calf serum is used for preparation and growth of vero cells which are used in production of vaccines. This technique has been used for decades in Polio, Rabies, and Influenza vaccines.

“It is used for the growth of cells, but neither