India Increases Access to Oral Polio Vaccines

As polio eradication campaigns are highlighted worldwide, a new collaboration intends to support India's effort to create a polio-free country.

Bharat Biotech, the largest manufacturer of oral polio vaccines, and Bilthoven Biologicals B.V. (BBio), a wholly owned subsidiary of Serum Institute of India Private Limited, announced a collaboration to strengthen the production and supply security of Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) further.

Through this collaboration, confirmed on April 2, 2024, BBIL and BBio will jointly obtain the regulatory approvals and licenses required to commercially manufacture OPVs in India for global supplies from drug substances manufactured in the Netherlands at BBio.

Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, commented in a press release, "Oral polio vaccines have been an integral part of the Govt of India's Universal Immunisation Program for several decades, with Bharat Biotech being one of the largest suppliers to immunization programs across the world."

"This collaboration between BBIL and BBio exemplifies cooperation between vaccine companies, ensuring a secure supply of oral polio vaccines and fortifies the nation's mission to eradicate polio."

According to the U.S. CDC's Global Polio Travel Health Advisory issued in January 2024, about 31 international destinations are at risk for circulating poliovirus.

The CDC says that before visiting any at-risk destination, adults who have previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series may receive a single, lifetime booster dose of the polio vaccine.

In the U.S., polio vaccines are offered at clinics and community pharmacies.