Ever since COVID-19 pandemic has locked us in our homes, we¡¯re desperately waiting for a solution that could end this mayhem.?
Recently, India¡¯s Serum Institute announced that it will be commencing human trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine (which will be called Covishield in India)? that is already in Phase III trials globally and awaiting government approvals.?
And now, reports have revealed that Phase II/III of the Oxford vaccine are commencing this week in India. The trials of Covishield vaccine will involve 1,600 people above the age of 18 years across 17 locations in Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Out of the 1600 test subjects, 400 will be tested for immune response whereas 1200 will be tested to understand the safety of the vaccine. This is by far the largest COVID-19 vaccine trial in the country.?
Reports also indicate that in Mumbai, the trials are being conducted at KEM and Nair hospitals. They have already started the preliminary procedures for the study. The medical institution will be conducting trials on 320 volunteers between the age group of 20 and 50 years. In total, the trial has around 1000 to 1,100 participants enrolled across five to eight locations.?
The vaccine has already undergone Phase I and II trials in the UK where it showed positive results. Preliminary trials revealed that the vaccine induces an antibody response in just 28 days -- similar to the patients who have recovered from COVID-19. A second booster shot of the vaccine spikes antibody response at an even higher level. All the blood samples of patients with a second booster shot revealed neutralising activity.?
Authorities claim that we should get to learn about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine as soon as November this year. Serum Institute¡¯s Adar Poonawala had stated that after the trials deliver successful results, people will get vaccinated in India as early as December this year.?
Recently, Bill Gates Foundation announced that it is providing at-risk funding of approximately $150 million to GAVI -- the Vaccine Alliance who would be providing it to Serum Institute to fund and reduce their overall manufacturing cost, bringing it down to just $3 or around Rs 225 for developing nations.??