Vaccine candidates from India progressing well, says ICMR

RACE TO CURE Phase II/III trials of Oxford University’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate to start at 17 sites within a week

NEW DELHI: India’s Covid-19 vaccine candidates are progressing well, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) director-general Balram Bhargava said on Tuesday.

He added phase II/III clinical trials for the recombinant Oxford University vaccine candidate will begin within a week at 17 sites across India. Serum Institute of India, which is the local manufacturer of the vaccine, will conduct the trials.

“Inactivated virus vaccine candidate by Bharat Biotech and the DNA vaccine by Zydus Cadila have completed phase I studies in 11 sites and started phase II trials. Phase I and II trials are for safety studies and very early efficacy studies,” said Bhargava.

At least 141 vaccine candidates are being studied globally, of which 26 are in different phases of clinical trials.

Bhargava said India is making all efforts to ensure a vaccine is available whenever it is ready. He added it includes prioritising and fair distribution, maintaining the cold chain, stockpiling and training of people to administer vaccines. “Availability of the vaccine is the key but what is more important in managing the disease is sustained behavioural change that includes wearing of masks, hand hygiene, and observing social distancing.”

Dr GC Khilnani, a former pulmonology department head at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said the vaccine will be the ultimate solution.