COVID 19 vaccine launch by August 15: ICMR-Bharat Biotech
A letter issued by Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR reveals plans to launch the COVID-19 vaccine being developed in collaboration with Bharat Biotech by August 15.
The letter states, “This is the first indigenous vaccine being developed by India and is one of the top priority projects which is being monitored at the topmost level of the Government. The vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by ICMR -National Institute of Virology, Pune. ICMR and BBIL are jointly working for the preclinical as well as clinical development of this vaccine.
It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by August 15, 2020, after completion of all clinical trials. BBIL is working expeditiously to meet the target, however, the final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project.” Presently, 12 clinical trial sites have been identified and ICMR has asked the institutions to enable subject enrolment by the first week of July.