Gujarat Corona Update date 4 august 2020
- Vaccine trials begin in UK, South Africa and Brazil, first phase trials in country begin in Mumbai and Pune by end of August
- The vaccine will be launched in the country under the name Covishield, and will be available by the end of the year
The Serum Institute of India, a vaccine manufacturer and trial run by Oxford University in the country, has received approval for an advanced trial. After getting permission from the Drug Controller General of India, the Serum Institute can now start the second and third phase wax trials in the country.
The vaccine is being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India. The vaccine will be launched in India under the name Covishield (AZD1222). The vaccine will be supplied to 60 other countries, including India. The vaccine manufactured by the company will be 50 per cent for India.
There will be 1600 volunteers in India
According to a report in the Indian Express, the trial of the Serum Institute will take place at 18 places in the country. It will involve 1600 volunteers. According to the Ministry of Health, the work of preparing the vaccine could be expedited with the permission of the Drug Controller.There will be a massive trial
An agreement has been signed between the government and the Melinda Gates Foundation under the National Biopharma Mission and Grand Challenge India program. Many institutes have been selected for mass trials of vaccines under this program. These include INCLEN Trust International, Palwal, Haryana, KEM Hospital, Pune, Society for Health Allied Research and Education, Hyderabad, National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai and Christian Medical College, Vellore.
In addition, AIIMS Delhi-Jodhpur, BJ Medical College, Pune, Jahangir Hospital and Bharti Hospital, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, JSS Academy, Mysore and Higher Education and Research, Post College, Gorakhpur The Institute of Medical Education and Research may also be involved.
Trials in Britain, Africa and Brazil
Trials of the vaccine have now begun in Britain, South Africa, and Brazil. Its trials in the country will begin in Mumbai and Pune by the end of August. The vaccine will be launched in India under the name Covishield. According to Adar Poonawala, CEO of the company, if the trial is successful, 30 to 400 million doses of the vaccine will be prepared by the first quarter of 2021. The vaccine could arrive by the end of this year.
So far the vaccine has proved effective
The vaccine is completely safe and effective, according to a report published in the medical journal The Lancet. Following this information, Oxford's vaccine has moved to the front of the list of frontrunner vaccines. According to a tweet from Oxford University, the vaccine, called AZD1222, has received a good immune response. The team involved in the vaccine trial and Oxford's monitoring team did not see any concern about the safety of the vaccine and have received a strong response.