Dr. Krishna Ella, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, to receive the award in Mysuru on Mar. 4

Mysore/Mysuru: The science team of Bharat Biotech that developed the Covaxin vaccine has been selected to receive Bhramara’s Prestigious Award for Distinguished Service to Humanity instituted by the Bhramara Trust of Y.T. and Madhuri Thathachari, Mysuru.

Addressing a press meet at Pathrakartara Bhavan in city this morning, Madhuri Thathachari, Managing Trustee of Bhramara Trust, lauded the Covaxin team of Bharat Biotech that has made the whole country proud by developing this vaccine.

Covaxin is the result of dedicated team, determined effort, sound science and a spirit of innovation, she said adding that Covaxin has saved millions of lives not only in India but in many countries of the world.

The Distinguished Award will be presented to the Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin team at a function to be held at Sri Rajendra Auditorium in JSS Medical College premises at Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagar here on March 4 at 4.30 pm.

Dr. Krishna Ella, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, will receive the award on behalf of the Covaxin team.

Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji will grace the occasion. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, member of Mysore Royal family, will preside. Padma Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will be the chief guest.

Padma Shri K. Vijayaraghavan, FRS, former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India; Prof. K.S. Rangappa, FNASC, FTWAS (former General President of Indian Science Congress and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore) and Dr. Suresh Bhojraj, Pro-Chancellor of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru, will be the guests of honour.

Bharat Biotech India Limited (BBIL), established in 1996 and based in Hyderabad, is a pioneering biotechnology company known for its world class R&D and manufacturing capabilities.

COVID-19, a widespread contagious Coronavirus disease carried by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, disrupted lives in an unprecedented manner. Owing to the severity of the illness and the alarming rate at which it spread, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Jan. 30, 2020 and by March 11, 2020, it was classified as the outbreak of a pandemic.

This novel virus which then had limited information caused the world to come to a grinding halt with tragedy and uncertainty leading the way. To overcome COVID-19, a major requirement was to create a safe and effective vaccines in less than a year. BBIL used the Whole-Virion inactivated Vero Cell derived platform technology to develop an indigenous vaccine — COVAXIN.

The cross-functional multi-disciplinary Covaxin team at BBIL worked tirelessly to roll out a vaccine for emergency use authorisation in nine months. The scientific community came together to peer review, probe and test this vaccine. Scientific rigour and transparency ensured the success of Covaxin.

Covaxin is a decisive paradigm that brings forth India’s innovation and passion-driven science. The Bharat Biotech is also the first in India to develop intranasal vaccines against the Sars-CoV-2.

Dr. H. Basavanagowdappa, Principal, JSS Medical College, Mysuru; Prof. K.S. Rangappa, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore (UoM) and Karnataka State Open University (KSOU); Dr. C.P. Madhu, Medical Superintendent and in-charge Director, JSS Hospital; Dr. B. Manjunatha, Registrar, JSS AHER; Dr. M.N. Suma, Vice-Principal, JSS Medical College and Dr. C.S. Vidya, Head, Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical College, were present at the press meet.