COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE : INDIA’S COVAXIN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES A PHASE OF HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS – REPORT!

The Indian vaccine which was developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and Zydus Cadila Ltd, has completed the phase 1 of human clinical trials of COVID-19. It has now moved to phase 2 of clinical trials.

This announcement was made by ICMR's Director-General Blaram Bhargava. He further said that the primary focus once the vaccine completes trials successfully will be to distribute it fairly. "At the present moment, there are three vaccines which are in different phases of clinical testing in India. The first one is the inactivated virus vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech which has completed its Phase 1 study in 11 sites and has started its Phase 2 study. Phase 1 and 2 are safety and very early efficacy studies."

"Similarly Zydus Cadila's DNA vaccine has also completed Phase 1 studies in 11 sites and started its Phase 2 trials which is also progressing. Recombinant Oxford vaccine to be manufactured by Serum Institute of India, Pune was given approval yesterday for Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials which would start within a week at 17 sites," he said.

Until a safe vaccine is established, he reinforced that safety protocols must be adhered to.

From around 141 vaccine candidates which are being studied from across the globe, around 26 are in clinical trials.