Currently, there is no intranasal Covid-19 vaccine in clinical trial in India, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan clarified today.
“However, the Serum Institute of India has started manufacturing Codagenix CDX-005, which is a live attenuated intranasal vaccine candidate for SARS-CoV-2,” Vardhan said on his sixth episode of Sunday Samvaad while interacting and answering questions on social networks. .
Currently, the Covid-19 vaccines closest to the finish line are designed to be injected into the arm. However, according to a recent Bloomberg report, researchers are looking at whether they can get better protection from vaccines that fight the virus at its point of attack – the nose and mouth.
An alternative to conventional jabs, aerosol and inhaled immunizations that is being developed in the US, Britain and Hong Kong could play an important role in helping society escape the restrictions that have disrupted economies and everyday life. Among its goals is to prevent the pathogen from growing in the nose, a point from which it can spread to the rest of the body, and to other people, read the article.
During their weekly interaction, Vardhan commented that although there are no intranasal COVID-19 vaccines being tested in India at this time, Serum India and Bharat Biotech are expected to conduct clinical trials of such vaccines in India in the coming months once they receive the regulatory approval.
He clarified that the Phase III Clinical Trial is generally with thousands of participants, sometimes even about 30,000 to 40,000 participants. It is possible that from a specific city or hospital, two hundred participants are selected at any one time, but in general, the overall group of participants in Phase III is much larger, the minister said.
In addition, the Union minister also stressed that no mutation of the new coronavirus has yet been found in the country. “I can assure you that so far, no coronavirus mutation has been detected in India. The Indian Council for Medical Research is already studying this matter in detail,” Vardhan added.
Following up on a question from the latest episode, Vardhan was asked about Phase II of the COVID-19 grants to states. The Minister shared that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already launched Phase II of the COVID Package to 33 States and Territories of the Union. The total amount released in the second package amounts to a total of ₹1,352 crore. This Phase II grant has been released in tranches during the months of August, September and October 2020.
On the situation of containing the spread of Covid-19 in the country, Vardhan noted that after having good control during the initial phase of the coronavirus pandemic situation, it has now worsened in Kerala.
“I would say other states should learn a lesson from Kerala. All states need to be careful during the upcoming festival season,” Vardhan said.
The Health Minister shared his views on the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Kerala. Noting that between January 30 and May 3, Kerala had reported only 499 cases and 2 deaths due to COVID-19, he regretted that Kerala was paying the price for gross negligence during the recent Onam holidays when the state unlocking of services, along with an increase in inter- and intra-state travel for commerce and tourism, led to the spread of Covid-19 cases in several districts.
“Kerala’s Epicurve changed completely due to Onam festivities across the state, new daily cases almost doubled,” he said. The minister said that this should serve as a good lesson for the entire state government that was negligent in planning the festival. season.
.
