NEW DELHI: As the national expert group on the Covid-19 vaccine strengthens plans for the procurement and distribution of injections, the Center is betting on the five candidate vaccines currently in clinical trials in India.
Candidates include three that are in advanced stages of trials in India: the Oxford-AstraZeneca candidate for which the Pune-based Serum Institute is conducting phase 3 clinical trials, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, which is also in phase 3, and Russia’s Sputnik V, which is expected to begin phase 2/3 of testing next week.
Niti Aayog member Dr. VK Paul, who also leads the national group of experts on vaccine administration, said that all these vaccines are in easy platforms and that the availability of the appropriate doses according to the requirements of India. The other two candidates include Cadila’s shot that has almost completed phase 2 and a Biological E candidate that is in phase 1/2.
The government said it was also looking at the two global candidates Pfizer and Moderna. However, he believes that the cold chain requirements for the Pfizer candidate represent a significant challenge and his limited number of doses would not be sufficient to meet demand from India.
“As far as we know, there is only one vaccine that needs to be kept at a temperature of -70 to -80 degrees Celsius, which will be difficult for all countries, as it can be an obstacle for any country to expand distribution. But we are examining even that and, if necessary, we will do whatever it takes to get doses of even that to meet our requirement, ”Paul said.
However, he argued that it would be difficult to meet India’s requirement with the Pfizer vaccine for the first few months.
India has estimated that around 30 million people, including frontline and healthcare workers and people in high-risk groups such as those over 50, will receive the vaccine in the initial phase.
Candidates include three that are in advanced stages of trials in India: the Oxford-AstraZeneca candidate for which the Pune-based Serum Institute is conducting phase 3 clinical trials, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, which is also in phase 3, and Russia’s Sputnik V, which is expected to begin phase 2/3 of testing next week.
Niti Aayog member Dr. VK Paul, who also leads the national group of experts on vaccine administration, said that all these vaccines are in easy platforms and that the availability of the appropriate doses according to the requirements of India. The other two candidates include Cadila’s shot that has almost completed phase 2 and a Biological E candidate that is in phase 1/2.
The government said it was also looking at the two global candidates Pfizer and Moderna. However, he believes that the cold chain requirements for the Pfizer candidate represent a significant challenge and his limited number of doses would not be sufficient to meet demand from India.
“As far as we know, there is only one vaccine that needs to be kept at a temperature of -70 to -80 degrees Celsius, which will be difficult for all countries, as it can be an obstacle for any country to expand distribution. But we are examining even that and, if necessary, we will do whatever it takes to get doses of even that to meet our requirement, ”Paul said.
However, he argued that it would be difficult to meet India’s requirement with the Pfizer vaccine for the first few months.
India has estimated that around 30 million people, including frontline and healthcare workers and people in high-risk groups such as those over 50, will receive the vaccine in the initial phase.
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