Bharat Biotech's iNCOVACC nasal vaccine can soon become an important tool in mass vaccination
A nasal vaccine against Covid-19, iNCOVACC, developed by Bharat Biotech, has been approved by India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. This is India's first intra-nasal vaccine against Covid-19
Here is what the new nasal vaccine is all about.
- Bharat Biotech's recombinant nasal vaccine - iNCOVACC - serves as an instrument for primary immunisation against Covid-19 in adults in the 18+ age group and it is meant for restricted use in emergencies only. For the time being, it can be administered only to the unimmunised.
- The vaccine uses a modified chimpanzee adenovirus, which cannot replicate in the body to carry the Covid spike protein and thereby induces better immunity.
- iNCOVACC is stable at 2-8 degrees Celsius and can be easily stored and distributed. Bharat Biotech has said that it has established large manufacturing capabilities for the vaccine all across India.
- iNCOVACC has the dual benefit of enabling faster development of variant-specific vaccines and easy nasal delivery, enabling mass immunisation. It can soon become an important tool in mass vaccination programmes during pandemics and endemics.
- According to Bharat Biotech, this nasal vaccine has been specifically formulated to allow intra-nasal delivery through nasal drops. It has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low and middle-income countries.
Advertisement
