India pushing for first COVID-19 vaccine by August 15

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

According to some media reports, India is pushing hard to launch the first-ever COVID-19 vaccine by the name of Covaxin on its Independence Day on August 15. 

Although the experts have reckoned that the vaccine could take longer period to be developed and produced on technical grounds, there have been indications to beat the clock to align it with the celebrations of Independence Day. 

The project, a public-private venture between Bharat Biotech, the government-run Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institutes of Virology, is reported to have strong backing of the government. 

It has been learnt that Covaxin was cleared animal trials last week and the government has roped in leading health institutions to expedite clinical trials among humans. 

Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 high-containment facility for the manufacture of the inactivated polio vaccine will now be used for the COVID-19 vaccine.