Corona vaccine by November end, says serum institute director

Covid Shield, a vaccine for COVID-19, will be launched by the end of November 2020, according to Pune Serum Institute Director P.C. Nambiar. Mr. Nambiar was present at the web meeting with the representatives of the All India Malayalee Association. Mr. Nambiar shared the latest information on the corona vaccine trial.

It usually takes six to seven years to develop a vaccine. The standards have been relaxed in view of the current situation. The germ of a disease will be isolated and the genetics identified. After studying its structure, its protein is isolated and tested in monkeys and white mice. Such experiments would take years, Mr. Nambiar said.

Corona is a new disease. The University of Oxford has analysed the changing nature of the corona virus. All aspects of the corona virus have been the subject of research. The University of Oxford was able to quickly detect the proteins that inactivate the corona virus. Preliminary testing of COVID-19 vaccine has already been carried out on animals. As a first step in the experiment, vaccines have been tested in less than 100 humans. The University of Oxford has found that people who have been vaccinated have no side effects.

As a second step, the experiment was performed on less than a thousand humans. A clear study has been done to ensure that there are no side effects. More than 80 per cent were cured and it was converted into a public document after being found to have no side effects. It was after reaching this conclusion that the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute signed an agreement.
The experiment at the University of Oxford was funded by AstraZeneca. The Serum Institute has entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca, as the company had earlier stated that the institute can’t enter into a direct agreement with the University of Oxford. The vaccine seed developed by Oxford University was purchased by the Serum Institute of India and the institute had sought the permission of the Central Government to go directly into the third phase of testing. Permission was obtained from the Central Government on July 31. The vaccine is currently being tested on about 5,000 people. The test drug will be given to 5,000 people by August 20.

The normal period time taken for a vaccine to be tested is 42 days. This is to determine if there are any side effects. The government has now demanded that in the special case of Corona it should take 58 days instead of 42. Corona is reported to be spreading rapidly in India. If the dissemination of vaccine ends on August 20, based on the first report taken after 15 days, the total days taken for testing may likely be reduced from 58 days, Mr. Nambiar said. Depending on how late the approval for the vaccine is given, corona proliferation will become a crisis. That is why Nambiar sees the possibility of the government taking a decision to shorten the trial period.

The Serum Institute has started manufacturing vaccines without waiting for the Central Government’s approval. Nambiar said such a risk was taken in view of the widespread spread of corona. He said the move was aimed at launching the vaccine as soon as it is approved.

As a third phase, the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford has been tested in humans around the world. Experiments in Denmark, the United Kingdom and Europe have been completed and the report submitted. It should be noted that this will also be considered by the Central Government.
In addition, COVID vaccine is being tested by 35 companies around the world. The vaccine is currently being tested in a hurry. Other than the vaccine from Oxford University, vaccines of three other companies are being tested at the Institute. The serum institute will launch its own vaccine against the corona virus in July 2021.