COVID-19: India aims to release vaccine by August 15

THE Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) aim to launch the country’s indigenous vaccine, Covaxin, by August 15.

What does it mean?

ICMR has selected 12 institutes for clinical trials of the country's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine and is set to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by August 15, 2020 after completion of all clinical trials.

What should we expect?

The 12 institutes have been ordered to fast track clinical trials of the vaccine with the project being put as high priority and monitored at the topmost level of the government.

BBIL is working expeditiously to meet the target, but the final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all selected institutes.

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech successfully developed Covaxin in collaboration with the ICMR and National Institute of Virology (NIV).

They recently gained the approval from the Drug Controller General of India to initiate Phase 1 and 2 of human clinical trials after pre-clinical studies have been successful in demonstrating safety and immune response.