Key points:
- Indian government-funded COVID-19 vaccine could be launched as early as February month.
- Senior ICMR scientist told vaccine has shown good efficacy.
- AstraZeneca has signed several supply and manufacturing deals with companies and governments around the world.
Bharat Biotech, a private company that is developing COVAXIN with the government run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), had earlier hoped to launch it only in the second quarter of next year.
An Indian government-funded Covid-19 vaccine could be launched as early as February – months earlier than expected, as last-stage trial begin this month and studies have so far showed it is safe and effective, a senior government scientist told Reuters.
“The vaccine has shown good efficacy,” senior ICMR scientist Rajni Kant, who is also a member of it’s Covid-19 task-force, said at the body’s New Delhi headquarters on Thursday.
“It is expected that by the beginning of next year February or March, something would be available.”
India’s cases of corona virus infections rose by 50,201 cases on Thursday 8.36 million, second only to the United States. Deaths rose by 704, with the total now at 124,315. The daily rise in infections and deaths has slowed since mid –September.
Kant, who is head of ICMR’s research management policy, planning and coordination cell, said it was up to decide if COVAXIN shots can be given to people even before the third- stage trails are over.
“It has shown safety and efficacy in the phase 1 and 2 trails and in the animal studies – so it is safe but you can’t be 100% sure unless the phase trails are over,” Kant said.
“There may be some risk, if you are ready to take the risk, you can take the vaccine. If necessary, the government can think of giving the vaccine in an emergency situation.”
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in September the government was considering granting an emergency authorisation for a Covid-19 vaccine, particularly for the elderly and people in high-risk workplaces.
Several leading vaccine candidates are already in final-stage testing. An experimental vaccine developed by Britain’s
AstraZeneca is among the most advanced ones, and Britain expects to roll it out in late December or early 2021.
AstraZeneca has signed several supply and manufacturing deals with companies and governments around the world, including with the Serum Institute of India.
