Good news for the nation as the COVAXIN developing company Bharat Biotech, has claimed that the one of India’s indigenous vaccine Covaxin, is expected to be ready by June 2021 and shall be launched by February 2021 if all goes as planned.
Bharat Biotech, is a private company that is developing COVAXIN with the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Sharing some details about the much awaited vaccine, a senior government scientist said that late-stage trials have shown that the drug is effective so far. The new development has pushed up the launch date, as earlier it was expected to launch in June 2021.
Rajni Kant, senior ICMR scientist and member of its COVID-19 task-force, said “It has shown safety and efficacy in the phase 1 and 2 trials and in the animal studies – so it is safe but you can’t be 100 percent sure unless the phase 3 trials are over. 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. It is expected that by the beginning of the next year, February or March, the vaccine would be available.”
Meanwhile, the health ministry is yet to decide if COVAXIN shots can be given to people even before the third-stage trials are over, if needed the government can think of giving it, he added.
Earlier in September, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that the government was considering granting an emergency authorisation for a COVID-19 vaccine – especially for people at high-risk like those in high-risk work or the elderly.
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