Efficacy report pending, yet government greenlights use of indigenously developed Covaxin
Sabrangindia16 Jan 2021
Even as India kickstarts its nationwide Covid vaccination campaign, a new controversy has erupted over the approval to use Bharat Biotech’s indigenously developed Covaxin, whose efficacy data is still awaited.
Concerns are being raised about granting emergency use authorisation to Covaxin, an indigenously developed vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biocon, even though the third phase of its trial isn’t completed and its efficacy data is not yet available. In fact, the authorization was granted “in clinical trial mode”, which raises even more questions.
There are at present two vaccines that are being offered; Covishield developed by a team from Oxford University in association with pharma major Astra Zeneca, and Covaxin, an indigenously developed Covid vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biocon in association with the Indian Council of Medical Rese
From crowded Delhi to the remote Himalayas: the world s most complex vaccine drive begins
India is combining tradition and technology in an ambitious bid to vaccinate its one billion citizens by the end of this year
16 January 2021 • 7:00am
A woman walks past a painting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai, a day before the country s Covid-19 vaccination drive
Credit: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
Peering from her simple concrete home in the foothills of the Himalayas, Taba Yari, 54, can finally breathe a sigh of relief. On Saturday, the first of 30 million Indian healthcare workers are set to receive Covid-19 vaccines, part of the first phase of the largest vaccination campaign in history.
A homegrown coronavirus vaccine will be rolled out in India from Saturday even though clinical trials haven't been completed. But the government insists it will be safe and effective.