New Delhi (NVI): India is working on three types of Covid-19 vaccines at different levels currently, the Ministry of Health said today while giving details of each one of them.
Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while addressing a media briefing here said the first vaccine is being developed by Oxford University in the UK. It is to be manufactured by Serum Institute of India under contract with a foreign company, he said.
The phase 1 trials of this vaccine have been completed in the UK, phase 2 trials are being done in the UK and South Africa and phase three trials are being done in Brazil, he said. “For third phase trials in India, the Drug Controller General of India has given permission to Serum Institute of India,” the secretary said.
The second vaccine is being developed by Bharat Biotech International, headquartered in Hyderabad, in collaboration with ICMR. Phase 1 and 2 trials are going on for this vaccine.
The third vaccine is being developed by Zydus Cadila, also an Indian company based in Ahmedabad. Phase 1 and 2 trials are going on for this vaccine also.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin today announced that Russia has become the first country in the world to register a vaccine against COVID-19.
Speaking at a government meeting, Putin said that Russia has successfully registered coronavirus vaccine after the approval of Russia’s Health Ministry.
Russia has named the vaccine as ‘Sputnik V’ in reference to the world’s first satellite Sputnik.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India has reached 22,68,675 with 45,257 deaths. 15,83,489 patients have been cured so far.
-ARK
