COVAXIN - India’s First COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate

When the entire world is busy finding the cure for COVID-19 and some of the countries have gone through their first and second phase of vaccine trials, India launches its first COVID-19 vaccine, COVAXIN, for the initial phase of clinical trials. Manufactured by Bharat Biotech of Hyderabad, COVAXIN may show a ray of hope in the current pandemic situation.
COVID-19 cases in India have increased exponentially on a daily basis and a vaccine is the need of the hour. Many countries such as the United States of America, England, Germany, Japan, and the mainland, China have created their respective vaccines which have gone through different phases of clinical trials. However, some cleared the first phase and some have reached the third phase of trials. In this race of finding the antidote, India launches its first candidate, i.e. COVAXIN. The vaccine was approved by the Drug Control General of India last week and clinical trials are expected to begin from this or next week.
The vaccine was co-jointly made by Bharat Biotech and the National Institute of Virology, Pune. First, the strain of Sars-CoV-19 was isolated in NIV Pune. Then it was sent to Bharat Biotech. According to officials, the vaccine was created in Bharat Biotech’s Bio-Safety Level-3 High Containment Facility in Genome Valley, Hyderabad.
The DCGI has assured that after submission of all the research reports, composition, and results of pre-clinical studies, the vaccine will be used for clinical trials of Phase-I and Phase-II from July’s first or second week.
The first phase of clinical trials will be on a small individual group where the dosage of the vaccine will be tested along with the side effects and immunity building. The second phase will be on a larger group where progress will be tracked on the basis of age and sex. After clearing these two phases, the third phase will include a group of thousand members where the immunity of a larger group will be tracked and noted down. After all the three phases are cleared, the vaccine will be launched in the market as COVID-19 Vaccine with proper dosage instructions according to age groups and sex.
In this pandemic, when the daily cases are increasing day by day at a higher rate, vaccines have always been the need of the hour. Our front line warriors such as doctors, nurses, hospital staff, policemen, office employees, and even your doorstep delivery boy are risking their lives to work for us and to serve us. Scientists and Pharmacists are busy finding a cure for COVID-19. We can help them by staying at home and by building proper immunity to fight this virus. Washing hands frequently, wearing masks when going out for necessities, taking a bath when returning home is to be followed. Instead of blaming a particular country or community, let’s be united against this virus. Together we will fight this virus and will be back to our normal lives.

Stay Home, Stay Safe.