Nasal Vaccine For Booster Shot, Ideal Time 6 Months After 2nd Dose: Covaxin Maker

The ideal time for a booster dose for COVID-19 vaccine is six months after the second dose, Bharat Biotech Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella said on Wednesday, and also emphasised the importance of having a nasal vaccine. He also pointed out that his company was the first in the world to develop a Zika vaccine.

PTI

Reportedly, Ella was speaking at the Times Now Summit 2021 on Wednesday. As per a report by The Times of India (TOI), he added that so far, the government and some experts are of the view that a booster dose is not urgent and ensuring full vaccination with two doses remains a priority. However, the final decision is with the government, he added.

Nasal shot's "scaling up capacity easy"

"The ideal time for a booster dose is six months after the second dose," Ella stated. Bharat Biotech is also looking at nasal vaccine as a booster dose as its scaling up capacity is very easy when compared with Covaxin, he added.

About the importance of nasal vaccine, he said the entire world is looking at nasal vaccines. That is the only way to stop transmission. Everyone is trying to figure out the immunology and fortunately, Bharat Biotech has figured it out.

File

The nasal vaccine usage could also eliminate the need for a vaccinated individual to continue wearing a mask, he added.

"Stop the transmission of virus"

"We are coming out with a nasal vaccine, we are thinking that Covaxin can be given as first dose, the second dose can be given a nasal, that is also strategically, scientifically very important because with the second dose, if it is a nasal one, you stop the transmission of the virus...," Ella said.

He indicated that Phase 2 trials of the nasal vaccine are over and data is being analysed. ¡°We should expect (findings) in 3-4 months,¡± he said, adding that Bharat Biotech is also talking to the government about using the CoWin platform for doing clinical trials.

BCCL

Covid situation, vaccine drive

This comes as over 12 crore beneficiaries are due for their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya noted on Thursday urged state health ministers to ensure they are motivated to take it and the entire adult population is administered the first dose during the ongoing 'Har Ghar Dastak' campaign.

The Covid-19 situation continues to improve in India. India reported 13,091 new Coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, taking its overall tally of Covid-19 cases to 3,44,01,670, while active cases declined to 138,556, the lowest in 266 days according to data from the Union Health Ministry.

Reuters

The daily rise in new Covid-19 cases has been below 20,000 for the past 34 days and less than 50,000 for 137 consecutive days now.

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