India's first vaccine- COVAXIN against the novel coronavirus, gets a nod to conduct Phase I and 2 human trials. Tests with this new vaccine in animals suggest the vaccine is safe and triggers an effective immune response. The vaccine was developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's facility at Genome Valley in Hyderabad, India. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, has partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited to fast track clinical trials of the indigenous COVID 19 vaccine. This is the first indigenous vaccine of India and is a top priority project for the government being monitored at the highest level. It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public use by August ending after completing the clinical trials.
Phase 1 successfully showed COVAXIN is safe and Phase 2 will begin in September
No vaccine has yet been approved for commercial use against the illness caused by the new coronavirus, but over a dozen vaccines from more than 100 candidates globally are being tested on humans. Most experts think a coronavirus vaccine is likely to become available by mid-2021, about 12-18 months after the new virus, known officially as Sars-CoV-2, first emerged.
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