Updated: October 6, 2020 9:21:50 am
Travelers wearing masks wait at a traffic intersection in Kochi, Kerala (AP)
Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker: India is working to vaccinate 20 to 25 million million of its population, about one sixth of its total population, against Covid19 disease by July next year, according to Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. This, of course, is based on the assumption that one or more vaccines will be available in the anticipated timeframe of early next year. So far, only one vaccine that India is interested in has been approved, the one developed in Russia. But that too must be tested in India before it can be licensed for use.
Harsh Vardhan said the government was working on a plan to “receive and use” 400 to 500 million (40 to 50 crore) doses of a coronavirus vaccine by July next year. This would be enough for 20 to 25 million people, since most of the vaccines in development that will likely be available early next year would require at least two doses to be administered. A candidate vaccine you are developing Johnson and Johnson, is the only one currently in phase 3 trials, which is potentially a single dose vaccine.
Harsh Vardhan said state governments have been asked to prepare a list of priority groups that should be vaccinated first. This list is supposed to be ready later this month. There is already a committee to organize the vaccine supply chain, including its storage, transportation and distribution, the minister said.
There are currently two Indian vaccines in development, both in phase 2 clinical trials. One of them is being developed by Hyderabad Bharat Biotech, and the other for Ahmedabad Zydus cadila. If the tests go well, they may also be available early next year.
Furthermore, Indian companies have signed agreements with at least four leading candidate vaccines for manufacturing and distribution in India. From Pune Serum institute it is supposed to bring two of these vaccines: one developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, and the other by the American company Novavax. The Oxford University vaccine is already being tested in the Indian population.
The Russian vaccine is supposed to be supplied by Dr. Reddy’s Labs. This vaccine is expected to enter late-stage trials in India soon. Then Hyderabad-based Biological E signed an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to bring their vaccine to India.
A health worker takes a nasal swab for COVID-19 at a government hospital in Unchahar, Raebareli district (AP)
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At least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine will be free for the Japanese
Japan has decided to release at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine for all its citizens, the Kyodo news agency reported. The Japanese government approved a policy on Friday.
Japan has signed agreements with AstraZeneca and Pfizer to secure 120 million doses of vaccines each, when ready. It is also negotiating 40 million doses with Moderna, according to the report. All three candidate vaccines are in phase 3 clinical trials in the United States and are expected to be available early next year. Japan hopes to receive enough doses to vaccinate its entire population in the first half of next year.
The policy passed on Friday also obliges the government, and not the vaccine companies, to pay damages to the Japanese if the vaccine induces serious harmful side effects.
Visitors wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus take selfies at a shopping arcade in Tokyo’s Asakusa district (AP)
Several other countries have also decided to make coronavirus vaccines available to their public for free. These include Australia and the United States.
Search for the coronavirus vaccine: the story so far
Like October 4:
- 193 candidate vaccines in clinical or preclinical trials
- 42 of them in clinical trials
- Ten in final stages, phase III human trials
- At least eight potential vaccines are under development in India. Two of them have entered phase II trials after completing phase I.
The most commented:
* AstraZeneca / University of Oxford
* Modern
* Pfizer / BioNTech
* Johnson and Johnson
* Sanofi / GlaxoSmithKline
* Novavax
* Russian vaccine, developed by Gamaleya Insttiute in Moscow
* Three Chinese vaccines that have been approved for use in China without the completion of phase 3 trials. One of them has received authorization for emergency use in the UAE.
(Source: WHO Coronavirus Vaccine Overview of October 2, 2020)
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