Vaccine discovery to eliminate the corona virus continues. Trial of several vaccine candidates has reached the advanced stage. Phase 1 and 2 trials of ICMR-Bharat Biotech’s indigenous corona vaccine Covaxin have also started. Volunteers have not seen any side-effects since the initial dose was given. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has opened its doors to support research.
Covaxin is an ‘inactivated’ vaccine of CMR-Bharat Biotech. It is made up of corona virus particles that were killed so that they could not infect. Its dose makes antibodies against the virus in the body. ZyCov is the ‘plasmid DNA’ vaccine of Zydus Cadilla. These vaccines are actually a type of DNA molecule in which antigen is also coded. If its DNA matches the sequence virus, the body will start making antibodies against it.
The Department of Biotechnology and its 16 Research Institutes are engaged to ensure that all research related to corona vaccine is done in India. Several low-kick test kits have been developed. Biorepositories are operating at full capacity for access to clinical and virus samples. A panel of patients found corona positive has also been formed which will help validate the kits.
At international level, the Chinese company has reached the third stage of Cyanoform’s Vaccine Human Trial. It is claimed that this is the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine to reach the third round of the trial.
