Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine may be the first Covid-19 shot available to the Indian market

Last updated on February 15th, 2023 at 12:24 pm

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, India looking forward to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and it’s likely that the first shot accessible for Indians will be available by the end of 2020. There are two more candidates for indigenously developed vaccines, which are anticipated to begin in a few weeks if they clear the trials, stated a report in The Times of India.

The Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune has partnered with the British pharma giant AstraZeneca for manufacturing the potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford. The SII, which has been allowed to conduct human clinical trials on candidates in India, will begin the Phases 2 and 3 trials soon, the official report stated. 

However, the Coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford is ahead of the other two local immunization candidates that have also begun the human clinical trials, the report expressed. 

In the meantime, the locally made vaccine by Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is jointly developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Zydus Cadila’s Zycov D are in the initial stages of human trials, according to the report. 

The largest human trials are done by SII which is being commenced with around 1,600 people, which are above 18 years of age and in around 17 chosen sites all around the globe. For the trials of the other two local vaccine candidates, there have been around 1,000-1,100 people enrolled in five to eight places, the report added. 

Adar Poonawalla’s Serum Institute of India partnered with Astra Zeneca in the research of the Covid-19 vaccine and will conceivably be responsible for the mass production of the vaccine. India will be manufacturing 60%-70% of all vaccines sold all around the world, with the Serum Institute of India playing a vital role.

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SII, which intends to make 100 million vaccines every month and 400 million for the Oxford vaccine by Dec 2020, has recently received $150 million from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and GAVI has also stated funding for manufacturing initial vaccine shots in the nation, the report added. 

Adar Poonawala has vowed and planning to keep the vaccine expense low. Furthermore, despite the USA and UK are purchasing nearly a million portions of the vaccine, Serum remains sure about its capacity to hold costs down to Rs 1000 for every dose.