Coronavirus vaccine: Oxford trials results by Nov-Dec; another Indian firm joins race
Coronavirus vaccine update: Biopharma company Epygen Biotech with operations in Mumbai and Dubai is planning to launch an affordable COVID-19 vaccine with an aim to roll out 500 million doses within six months
- Oct 14, 2020,
- Updated Oct 14, 2020 9:44 AM IST
With experts stating that life can only get back to normal once a coronavirus vaccine is developed, citizens from across the world are waiting with bated breath. All eyes are on the top contenders but even the ones leading the race have faced their fair share of challenges. After the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine trial, Johnson and Johnson had to halt their vaccine trial after a participant fell in. However, as for all the trials being carried out in India, there has been no reports of any participant falling sick. Meanwhile, another company in India has joined the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.
Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan is also optimistic of more than one vaccine in India. "We're expecting that early next year we should have vaccines in the country from maybe more than one source. Our expert groups are formulating strategies to plan on how to roll out the distribution of the vaccine in the country," he said during a meeting with the Group of Ministers.
It must also be kept in mind that the number of doses is a key factor in vaccination. The fewer the number of doses, the faster the inoculation process would wrap up. India so far has only two-dose and three-dose vaccines. Oxford vaccine and Bharat Biotech's candidate are two-dose vaccines, while Zydus Cadila's is three-dose.
With experts stating that life can only get back to normal once a coronavirus vaccine is developed, citizens from across the world are waiting with bated breath. All eyes are on the top contenders but even the ones leading the race have faced their fair share of challenges. After the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine trial, Johnson and Johnson had to halt their vaccine trial after a participant fell in. However, as for all the trials being carried out in India, there has been no reports of any participant falling sick. Meanwhile, another company in India has joined the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.
Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan is also optimistic of more than one vaccine in India. "We're expecting that early next year we should have vaccines in the country from maybe more than one source. Our expert groups are formulating strategies to plan on how to roll out the distribution of the vaccine in the country," he said during a meeting with the Group of Ministers.
It must also be kept in mind that the number of doses is a key factor in vaccination. The fewer the number of doses, the faster the inoculation process would wrap up. India so far has only two-dose and three-dose vaccines. Oxford vaccine and Bharat Biotech's candidate are two-dose vaccines, while Zydus Cadila's is three-dose.