Reportedly, India’s first COVID-19 vaccine can be launched in February 2021. The Indian government-backed Covaxin trials are showing good results and it is safe so far, according to scientists. The last stage trials for the vaccine have begun this month and if good results are achieved then it can be launched in February 2021.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and a private company Bharat Biotech have joined hands to develop the vaccine. Earlier, the launch was expected till the second quarter of the next year but the good results have given hope that it could be launched in February next year. ICMR scientist Rajni Kant said that “the vaccine has shown good efficacy. It is expected that by the beginning of next year, February or March, something would be available.”
“There may be some risk, if you are ready to take the risk, you can take the vaccine. If necessary, the government can think of giving the vaccine in an emergency situation,” Kant added.
However, the indigenous vaccine would be a big relief to the country that reported 50,201 cases and 704 deaths on Tuesday. India has reported 124,315 COVID-19 deaths till now, only second to the USA. While several other vaccines have been launched in the market including Russia’s ‘Sputnik V’. Britain’s AstraZeneca which is being developed by Oxford University is in the final stage of testing. The AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to be launched in late December or early 2021.
