Bharat BioTech

"Big Boost to India's Fight Against COVID-19! Bharat Biotech's ChAd36-SARS-CoV-S COVID-19 (Chimpanzee Adenovirus Vectored) recombinant nasal vaccine approved by @CDSCO_INDIA_INF for primary immunization against COVID-19 in 18+ age group for restricted use in emergency situation," Mandaviya tweeted.

The vaccine manufacturer said that BBV154 (intra nasal vaccine) has proven to be safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic in subjects in controlled clinical trials. The BBV154 is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilized spike protein. "This vaccine candidate was evaluated earlier in phase I and II clinical trials with successful results. BBV154 has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery. In addition, the nasal delivery system has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low and middle-income countries", claimed Bharat Biotech in a statement.

The CEPI will provide funding of up to $19.3 million to support the development of a "variant-proof" SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate to an international multidisciplinary consortium comprising Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL), India, the University of Sydney, Australia, and ExcellGene SA, Switzerland.

Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech on Friday announced the temporary slowing down of its Covid vaccine Covaxin's production across its manufacturing facilities. "Bharat Biotech today announces the temporary slowing down of production of Covaxin across its manufacturing facilities, having completed its supply obligations to procurement agencies and foreseeing the decrease in demand," it said in a statement.

The vaccine manufacturer had proposed the booster dose for those who have been already been inoculated with Covishield and Covaxin vaccines. "Granting permission to conduct clinical trials with vaccine does not convey or imply that, based on the clinical trial data generated with the vaccine, permission to market this vaccine in the country will automatically be granted," said the national drugs regulator.

The Centre on Monday issued guidelines for the vaccination of youngsters of 15-18 years and precaution dose for healthcare and frontline workers along with 60 plus population with comorbidities. The union health ministry has said that only Covaxin would be available for the children.

Zydus Cadila's vaccine ZyCoV-D has also been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO) for children but it is not likely to be part of the immunisation programme as it has not yet been introduced even for adults. According to Dr NK Arora,  Chairman of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), Covaxin has shown very good immune response in children during trials.