Bharat Biotech’s Intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine Approved For Booster Dose Trials
Mumbai: The Drugs Controller General of India on Friday permitted Bharat Biotech to conduct trials for its intranasal COVID-19 booster dose. The Drug Controller General of India today gave the go-ahead for the Phase-III trials. The trials will be conducted at nine locations in the country. Also Read: Covaxin, Covishield Vaccines Given ‘Conditional’ Market Approval By DCGI
It would be easier to administer the intranasal vaccine as a booster in a mass vaccination campaign.
Bharat Biotech has said that the nasal vaccine, BBV154, stimulates the immune response at the site of infection – the nose – and is very effective in preventing infection and transmission of COVID-19.
It has also underscored how easily the nasal vaccine can be administered and the fact that it will not require trained healthcare workers.
The Hyderabad-based vaccine maker had last month sought the drug regulator’s approval for Phase III trials of the nasal vaccine.
The trials will evaluate the BBV154 nasal vaccine for both the second dose primary schedule and the booster dose schedule. Intranasal vaccines are easy to administer in large-scale vaccination campaigns and help reduce and prevent viral transmission.
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield got fresh approvals soon after they were approved for sale in the market. However, this does not mean that both vaccines will be available in stores anytime soon. Where people will be able to buy these from hospitals and clinics, the details are awaited.
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