Why Mission COVID Suraksha has been Launched?

The central government recently announced the third stimulus package worth Rupees 900 crore for Mission COVID Suraksha.

Mission COVID-Suraksha

  • Mission COVID-Suraksha has been launched to boost the development of vaccine in India.
  • The mission will ensure that the vaccines are brought to the market.
  • This mission was introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her 12 point announcements under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan 3.0.
  • Rs 2.65 lakh crores has been allocated under this fourth economic package. Out of which, Rs 900 crores was allocated to the Department of Biotechnology under the COVID Suraksha Mission.
  • This mission has an end-to-end focus from preclinical development to the clinical development. It also focused on manufacturing and regulatory facilitation to deploy, consolidate all available and funded resources to accelerate the product development.

Where the funds will be utilized?

  • The fund will be used to implement the Phase I of Mission COVID Suraksha for 12 months.
  • The funds would be diverted for the development of vaccines.
  • It would also be used to provide license to the vaccines that are in clinical stage or ready to enter this stage.
  • The fund would also help in strengthening the existing immunoassay laboratories, central laboratories and other facilities for animal studies.
  • It will support the development of common harmonized protocols, training, data management systems and regulatory submissions.

How the mission is supported?

This mission is supported by the India Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Ind-CEPI) mission and National Bio Pharma Mission.

Ind-CEPI mission

This mission was launched in the year 2019. This was launched with an aim to strenghten the development of vaccines for epidemics in India. The mission supports the infrastructure development so as to develop the vaccine.

Coalition for Epidemic preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

CEPI was established by the World Economic Forum, India, Norway and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the year 2017 at Davos, Switzerland.  It provides funds for independent research projects that are developing vaccines. CEPI has been headquartered in Oslo, Norway.