We Could Have A COVID-19 Vaccine In India By Early 2021 But It Will Take Time To Reach Everyone
As India, like the rest of the world, desperately waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said that it could be made available in the country by the start of next year.?
"Just like other countries, India is also making efforts. Three vaccines candidates are in different phases. Under Prime Minister's guidance, an expert group is looking at it and there is advanced planning in place. We are hopeful that by the start of next year a vaccine will be available in India," Harsh Vardhan said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The minister added that even after the vaccine is ready, it will not be immediately available to everyone.
Work in progress
Two indigenous vaccines by Zydus Cadila and Bharat Biotech have completed phase 1.
Last week, domestic?vaccine maker Bharat Biotech?announced that the animal trials of its candidate Covaxin were successful.
It said the results demonstrated the protective efficacy of the vaccine in a live viral challenge model.
"Three vaccines are at the clinical trial stage in India.?Zydus Cadila and Bharat Biotech?have completed phase-I trials. Results are being analysed. They have started recruitment for the second phase," Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) DG Dr. Balram Bhargava had said earlier this week.
Serum Institute of India resume trials
Serum Institute of India (SII) has again commenced the trials of the?Oxford COVID-19 which will be called Covishield in India?after getting clearance from the Drug Controller General of India.?AstraZeneca had paused the trials?following a serious side effect in a trial participant.?
The Pune-based firm, is looking after the trials at 17 trial sites across India.
Besides this, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited, a global pharmaceutical company headquartered out of India, have agreed to cooperate on clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine in India.
Sputnik V, an adenovirus vector-based vaccine, was developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, along with the Russian Direct Investment Fund and registered on August 11.
"On regulatory approval in India, RDIF shall supply to Dr. Reddy's 100 million doses of the vaccine. The Sputnik V vaccine, which is based on well-studied human adenoviral vector platform with proven safety, is undergoing clinical trials for the coronavirus pandemic," said a statement from the fund.
Earlier on Monday, Dr Harsh Vardhan had said that India averted a "major crisis" when the coronavirus outbreak started because of the countrywide lockdown imposed by PM Modi. The lockdown prevented up to 29 lakh cases.
