Pharma giant Bharat Biotech on Tuesday announced the launch of an oral cholera vaccine (OCV) to help combat cholera which continues to pose a significant global public health challenge, especially in regions with inadequate sanitation.
"Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL), a global leader in vaccine innovation and developer of vaccines for infectious diseases, today dedicated iNCOVACC® (BBV154) to the nation, the world's 1st COVID intranasal vaccine for Primary series and Heterologous booster," read a release issued by the firm on Thursday.
The Union Health Ministry said that those who have taken Covishield and Covaxin could take the nasal vaccine as a heterologous booster dose. The iNCOVACC has been approved by the Government of India and will be used as a heterologous booster dose for those above 18 years of age.
The nasal vaccine BBV154 had received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India in November for restricted use in an emergency situation for those above 18 as a heterologous booster dose.
The nassal vaccine has been approved for those aged above 18 years. The vaccine will be available in the private hospitals for booster dose in the initial phase.
Ella, Chairman, and MD of Bharat Biotech, which produces Covaxin, met state Minister for Large and Medium Industries Dr. Murugesh R. Nirani, in Hyderabad on Friday, stated the official press release from the ministry of large and medium industries.
The new inoculation was developed by Bharat Biotech, which had already developed an intravenous product greenlit by the World Health Organization last November.
India's first intranasal Covid vaccine by Bharat Biotech on Tuesday got the approval from the Drug Controller General of India for 18+ age group for restricted use in emergency situation.
The WHO's EUL approval for Covaxin was expected by 5 October as WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) was scheduled to meet on this day to make its recommendations on Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for Emergency Use Listing. The process has been delayed as more technical data has been sought from the pharma major.
The National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme has been successfully going on across all states and Union Territories since 16th January, 2021, he added.
