Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Visual Stories
  • Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Fitness Bands Reviews
  • Speakers Reviews
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
In the news
Supreme Court Of India
2002 Gujarat Riots
Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Maharashtra Government
University Grants Commission
Alt News
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Technology
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Visual Stories
Reviews
Phone Reviews
Fitness Bands Reviews
Speakers Reviews
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / India News / India targets to launch first COVID-19 vaccine by August 15
India

India targets to launch first COVID-19 vaccine by August 15

India targets to launch first COVID-19 vaccine by August 15
Written by Shubham Sharma
Jul 03, 2020, 12:05 pm 3 min read
India targets to launch first COVID-19 vaccine by August 15

In a major development, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced its plan to launch a COVID-19 vaccine for public use by August 15. The shot has been developed by the agency's National Institute of Virology and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and is moving through clinical human trials, which are now being fast-tracked. Here's all you need to know about it.

Trials
Experimental vaccine trials being fast-tracked

A few days ago, ICMR and Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine candidate, called COVAXIN or BBV152, went into human trials with the approval of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). The shot was developed over the last few months and was subsequently proven to be safe and effective in pre-clinical trials conducted on animals. Now, the same has to be established for humans.

Tests
12 institutes roped in for human studies

ICMR has partnered with 12 institutes for human trials of COVAXIN. These studies typically involve hundreds to thousands of volunteers and are conducted over several months, but given the current health emergency in India, ICMR is moving to expedite the trial process. It has written to a few institutes to accelerate the approvals required to begin trials and volunteer enrollment as soon as possible.

Quote
Here's an excerpt from ICMR's letter to selected trial sites

"In view of the public health emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic and urgency to launch the vaccine, you are strictly advised to fast-track all approvals related to initiation of clinical trial and ensure that the subject enrollment is initiated no later than 7th July 2020."

Target
Goal to launch vaccine for public use by August 15

In the letter, ICMR Director General Dr. Balram Bhargava said they target to complete all clinical trials and launch the experimental vaccine for public use "latest by August 15, 2020." He notes Bharat Biotech is "working expeditiously" to meet the target but the final outcome will directly depend on the cooperation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project.

Monitoring
Project being monitored at topmost level of the government

Bhargava further added that this is "one of the top priority projects which is being monitored that the topmost level of the government" and any kind of non-compliance from the chosen institutes "will be viewed very seriously." "You are advised to treat this project on [the] highest priority and meet the given timelines without any lapse," he emphasized.

Vaccine
What we know about this vaccine?

The COVAXIN experimental shot has been created from an inactivated strain of the novel coronavirus isolated by the National Institute of Virology in Pune. When injected, the vaccine does not affect the subject but primes its body to generate an immune response in the form of neutralizing antibodies that can automatically fight off the virus when an active version of the virus attacks.

Possibility
If launched, this would be a major breakthrough

If this target is met and the vaccine is cleared for emergency public use by August 15, it would be a major scientific record. Currently, the UK's AstraZeneca and US' Moderna Therapeutics are the front-runners in the race to develop a vaccine, with the former targeting to make its shot available by October, while the latter is looking at an early 2021 launch.

Share this timeline
Facebook
Whatsapp
Twitter
Linkedin
Shubham Sharma
Shubham Sharma
Twitter
Editor with over five years of experience in covering all things science, consumer tech, space tech, AI, infosec, and business. A commerce graduate from University of Lucknow. I have been handling Tech beat at NewsBytes since 2018.
Latest
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Bhargava
Balram Bhargava
Moderna Therapeutics
Bharat Biotech
Latest
MS Dhoni vs Rishabh Pant: Decoding their stats in Tests
MS Dhoni vs Rishabh Pant: Decoding their stats in Tests Sports
Too late: Doctor receives transfer order 13 days after death
Too late: Doctor receives transfer order 13 days after death India
'RRR' emerges as runner-up at Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards
'RRR' emerges as runner-up at Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards Entertainment
Wimbledon: Nick Kyrgios knocks out Stefanos Tsitsipas, reaches fourth round
Wimbledon: Nick Kyrgios knocks out Stefanos Tsitsipas, reaches fourth round Sports
WI vs BAN: 1st T20I called off due to rain
WI vs BAN: 1st T20I called off due to rain Sports
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Current COVID-19 surge can't be termed 4th wave: ICMR official
Current COVID-19 surge can't be termed 4th wave: ICMR official India
India inching closer to launching its first dengue vaccine
India inching closer to launching its first dengue vaccine India
Don't think current COVID-19 surge is fourth wave: ICMR ex-head
Don't think current COVID-19 surge is fourth wave: ICMR ex-head India
Third wave to wane in Delhi, Maharashtra by February-end: ICMR
Third wave to wane in Delhi, Maharashtra by February-end: ICMR India
Vaccine booster doses will not stop Omicron infections: Top expert
Vaccine booster doses will not stop Omicron infections: Top expert India
More News
Bhargava
Bharat Biotech allowed COVAXIN trials on children aged 12+
Bharat Biotech allowed COVAXIN trials on children aged 12+ India
1.7 million deaths in 2019 linked to air pollution
1.7 million deaths in 2019 linked to air pollution India
Coronavirus: Government says it doesn't plan to vaccinate entire country
Coronavirus: Government says it doesn't plan to vaccinate entire country India
India has world's highest number of COVID-19 recoveries: Health Ministry
India has world's highest number of COVID-19 recoveries: Health Ministry India
51% COVID deaths in India in people above 60: Centre
51% COVID deaths in India in people above 60: Centre India
More News
Balram Bhargava
ICMR chief explains why COVID-19 second wave is affecting youngsters
ICMR chief explains why COVID-19 second wave is affecting youngsters India
SII, Bharat Biotech ensure 'smooth roll out' of vaccines globally
SII, Bharat Biotech ensure 'smooth roll out' of vaccines globally India
COVAXIN is 200% safe: Bharat Biotech MD on efficacy concerns
COVAXIN is 200% safe: Bharat Biotech MD on efficacy concerns India
Government assures vaccine will work against new COVID-19 strain
Government assures vaccine will work against new COVID-19 strain India
COVID-19 task force details plan to detect new coronavirus strain
COVID-19 task force details plan to detect new coronavirus strain India
More News
Moderna Therapeutics
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine found to be 95% effective: Details here
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine found to be 95% effective: Details here Technology
Zydus Cadila's COVID-19 vaccine found safe, going into Phase-2 trial
Zydus Cadila's COVID-19 vaccine found safe, going into Phase-2 trial India
Chinese hackers targeted COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna: Report
Chinese hackers targeted COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna: Report World
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine goes into final human trial stage
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine goes into final human trial stage World
NewsBytes Briefing: Snap's revenue grows; Moderna's vaccine won't be cheap
NewsBytes Briefing: Snap's revenue grows; Moderna's vaccine won't be cheap Technology
More News
Bharat Biotech
Clinical trials for nasal COVID-19 vaccine complete: Bharat Biotech
Clinical trials for nasal COVID-19 vaccine complete: Bharat Biotech India
Centre denies asking Bharat Biotech to address WHO's COVAXIN suspension
Centre denies asking Bharat Biotech to address WHO's COVAXIN suspension India
COVAXIN likely to get approval for children above 2yrs: Report
COVAXIN likely to get approval for children above 2yrs: Report India
COVAXIN supply to be increased as teens get COVID-19 vaccines
COVAXIN supply to be increased as teens get COVID-19 vaccines India
Are Indian vaccines effective against Omicron? Here's what manufacturers say
Are Indian vaccines effective against Omicron? Here's what manufacturers say India
More News
Next News Article
Next News Article

Love India news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

India Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Technology News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League (IPL) Karnataka Samsung Xiaomi West Bengal
Bihar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Haryana Narendra Modi Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu Gujarat Yogi Adityanath YouTube
Instagram Hollywood News Uttar Pradesh Kerala Netflix Bollywood News Mamata Banerjee Maruti Suzuki Rahul Gandhi Elon Musk
Shah Rukh Khan Chelsea FC OPPO Akhilesh Yadav Indian Cricket Team Apple Manchester United Salman Khan Cryptocurrency OnePlus
Amitabh Bachchan ICC Women's World Cup Vivo India vs Sri Lanka
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive IPL 2022 Schedule IPL 2022 Points Table Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2022