Phase 3 human trials of Covaxin to begin in Odisha!

With the COVID-19 Novel Corona Virus Pandemic still raging across the world, teams of scientists and researchers are fighting hard to come up with vaccines to eradicate this Virus, as soon as possible! Though Russia has already registered 2 vaccines and begun distributing them among their citizens, there are still a number of question marks over these vaccines as they have not cleared the Phase 3 human trials, which include a large sample of volunteers to measure the efficacy of the vaccine candidate on a larger populace to eliminate the prevalence of all possible side-effects! However, it was just recently reported that Dr. Reddy's Laboratories would be conducting the Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials of the first Russian vaccine - Sputnik V, with Indian volunteers and on successful completion of these, would be importing 100 million doses of the vaccine, as per its deal with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

However, we have some ever better news for you! The indigenously developed Indian vaccine, has received the nod to move into the Phase 3 human trials. This vaccine candidate, being jointly developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) National Institute of Virology, has been named Covaxin. We hear that the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given permission for the beginning of the late stage (Phase 3) human trials of Covaxin. It is set to begin at Odisha, in Bubaneshwar's IMS and SUM Hospital, which is one of the 21 medical institutes across India to have been selected by the ICMR, to conduct these trials. Reports state that this stage of the trials would cover 28,000 people from the age group of 18 and above, in all the 21 sites across the country.

Meanwhile, there are reports that India's other indigenous COVID-19 vaccine - Covishield, which is being developed by the Serum Institute of India, is also nearing the final stages. Volunteers are being recruited and vaccinating them has begun for Covishield, for monitoring the Phase 3 trials. The Indian government had recently mentioned that it has set aside $7 billion for vaccinating its entire population and also that distribution plans for the vaccine are getting put in place. Once a vaccine candidate clears the Phase 3 clinical testing and gets approved to go into production, even the first phase of distribution plans have been announced by the government! It remains to be seen, which vaccine candidate gets into production first! Stay tuned for updates...