India’s first COVID-19 vaccine expected to be launched by August 15

Courtesy: The Gulf Indians
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to fast track clinical trials of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine. ICMR’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune has provided the virus strain to BBIL to develop the vaccine.

The clinical trials will be held in 12 institutes across the country. In a letter to these institutes, the ICMR stated that it aims to launch the vaccine for public health use by August 15, after completion of all clinical trials.

Meanwhile, India’s second COVID-19 vaccine produced pharma giant Zydus Cadila got approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct phase I and phase II human clinical trials.