New Delhi: An intranasal Covid vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech will be available on CoWIN from Friday as India steps up surveillance, and reviews readiness to thwart a possible Covid wave.
The nasal vaccine, which was approved in September, can be used as a booster, official sources said. It will be available in private centres.
So far, about 22.35 crore booster doses have been administered which is 27% of the total population eligible for boosters.The first and second doses coverage currently stand at 97% and 90% respectively.
In the wake of rising Covid numbers in China, states have been asked to undertake mock drills across health facilities with special focus on oxygen plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources. They have also been asked to ramp up testing and genome sequencing.
Official sources have also highlighted that while India is taking all measures to counter any possible rise in cases, there is no reason to panic. Asked whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is expected to enter Delhi along with his Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday, can continue, a senior health ministry functionary said: “The minister’s letter has made it clear that the Yatra can continue only if it follows Covid protocols. If it does so, then there is no reason why it cannot continue.”
Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya had written to Gandhi earlier this week, citing complaints from several MPs on the lack of Covid-appropriate behaviour during the Yatra. He asked for the use of masks and hand sanitisers, apart from mandatory isolation of participants before and after they have walked in the Yatra. He had also said only vaccinated individuals should participate in the Yatra.
The Congress responded saying no Yatri had tested positive so far and clarified that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu — who got Covid days after being in the Yatra — had not “caught it while he was with the Yatris”.
Nasal vaccine can be booster for adults
The nasal vaccine, like Bharat Biotech’s earlier vaccine Covaxin, is a result of public-private collaboration. It is a joint venture between Bharat Biotech and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and its PSU, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
Supported by DBT and BIRAC under the aegis of Mission COVID Suraksha, the mission was launched by DBT and implemented by BIRAC to reinforce and accelerate efforts to develop the COVID-19 vaccine as part of Aatmanirbhar 3.0. Scientific leadership at various levels of vaccine development was provided by DBT laboratories and BIRAC.
The vaccine, which goes by the brand name iNCOVACC, according to Bharat Biotech, is the world’s first intranasal vaccine for Covid to receive approval for the primary 2-dose schedule, and heterologous booster dose.
“iNCOVACC®️ had earlier received approval under Restricted Use in Emergency Situation for ages 18 and above for primary 2-dose schedule. Phase III trials were conducted for safety, immunogenicity in ~3100 subjects, at 14 trial sites across India. Heterologous booster dose studies were conducted for safety and immunogenicity in ~875 subjects, with BBV154 intranasal vaccine administered post 2 doses of the two commonly administered COVID-19 vaccines. The trials were conducted at 9 trial sites across India,” the company said in a statement.
iNCOVACC is stable at 2-8°C for easy storage and distribution. Bharat Biotech has established large manufacturing capabilities at multiple sites across India, including in Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana.
Also read: Bharat Biotech’s internasal Covid vaccine iNCOVACC gets CDSCO approval under restricted use