India may get vaccine by early 2021

New Delhi, Aug 28: As

Covid-19 vaccine trials move ahead at a breakneck speed, an approved vaccine is likely to hit the Indian market by the first quarter of 2021, Bernstein said in a report.

Globally, there are four candidates that are close to approval by the end of 2020 or early 2021.

Through partnerships, India has access to two of those AZ/Oxford's viral vector vaccine and Novavax's protein subunit vaccine.

"Phase I/II data looks promising for both in terms of safety and the vaccine's ability to elicit an immune response," it said. "We are optimistic that there will be an approved vaccine in the market by

1Q calendar year 2021 in India."

While the vaccine could be available at $3-6 (Rs 225

550) per dose, herd immunity might be two years away due to implementation challenges, it said, adding the experience in large scale adult vaccina

tion programmes is thin.

The polio eradication campaign in 2011 and the recent Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) are examples of large-scale campaigns but the scale there was 1/3rd of what the Covid-19 vaccine imple

mentation programme demands.

Cold chain storage and trained manpower will be the biggest hurdles, it said. "Even assuming 2x current throughput, implementation in the government programme can take 18-20 months...We believe, the first set of vaccines will be allocated to the vulnerable population, healthcare workers, population above 65 years followed by essential sector workers and the economically weaker section,” it said.