Bharat Biotech Vaccine Covaxin Could Be Launched In February Says Govt Scientist

COVAXIN, the government-backed COVID-19 vaccine, might be launched as early as February — months before expected — as last-stage trials begin this month and studies have thus far shown it's safe and effective, a senior ICMR scientist told Reuters.

Bharat Biotech Vaccine Covaxin Could Be Launched In February Says Govt Scientist Bharat Biotech, which is developing COVAXIN with the Indian Council of Medical Research, had earlier hoped to launch it only within the second quarter of next year.

“The vaccine has shown good efficacy,” senior ICMR scientist Rajni Kant, who is additionally a member of the Centre’s COVID-19 task-force, said at the research body's headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. “It is predicted that by the start of next year, February or March, something would be available.”

Dr. Kant, who is that the head of ICMR's research management, policy, planning, and coordination cell, said it had been up to the Health Ministry to decide if COVAXIN shots are often given to people even before the third-stage trials are over.