Bhart Biotech on wednesday said that though newborn calf serum is used in manufacturing of viral vaccines, it is not used in the final formulation of covacin. The statement came after an RTI query on the contents of Covaxin led to a Congress leader levelling allegations of cow salughter on social media. The manufacturing of viral vaccines. It is used for growth of cells, but neither used in growth of virus nor the final formulation. Covacin is highly formulation. Covaxin is highly purfied to contain only the inactivated virus components by removing all other impurities, Bharat Biotech said in a statement. The Centre, meanwhile slammed the social medai posts, saying that "facts have been twisted and misrepresented. "The union ministry of health and family welfare issued a detailed note explaining the use of newborn calf serum in vaccine making. The statement from Bharat Biotech said. Bovine serum is widely used in the manufacture of vaccines globally for several decades. The use of newborn calf serum was transparently documented in various publications since the last nine months. Bharat Biotech's clarifications came after congress, national coordinator for digital communication and social medai. The BJP leader alleged that congress will be known for two things promoting vaccine hesitancy and vaccine wastage in states where it is in office. Hitting out at congress, patra alleged, "Some parties, especially congress, want derail the vaccination drive. They want to spread misconceptions about vaccination. Congress has sinned. Covacin is absolutely safe and free from any distortion. BJP on wednesday accused congress of trying to derail the Covid-19 vaccination drive by fuelling the misconception that Covaxin has calf serum, BJP spokesperson sabmit patra claimed that Congress has "sinned" despite clarification from the government that rejected such a claim. A vaccine industry expert pointed out that while various kinds of bovine serum are used in vaccine making.
