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The Times of India
The Times of India
Lifestyle
TIMESOFINDIA.COM

Coronavirus: Bharat Biotech's nasal vaccine cleared for use, tweets health minister

Homegrown nasal vaccine, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, has been cleared for use. In a series of tweets, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, has confirmed the approval of the nasal vaccine.

"Big Boost to India's Fight Against COVID-19! Bharat Biotech's ChAd36-SARS-CoV-S COVID-19 (Chimpanzee Adenovirus Vectored) recombinant nasal vaccine approved by @CDSCO_INDIA_INF for primary immunization against COVID-19 in 18+ age group for restricted use in emergency situations," Dr Mandaviya has tweeted.

"This step will further strengthen our collective fight against the pandemic. India has harnessed its science, R&D, and human resources in the fight against COVID-19 under PM @NarendraModi Ji's leadership. With the science-driven approach & Sabka Prayas, we will defeat COVID-19," he has said in another tweet.

BBV-154 nasal vaccine

"An intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response – neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA, and T cell responses. Immune responses at the site of infection (in the nasal mucosa) – essential for blocking both infection and transmission of COVID-19," an official statement from the manufacturer says.

Read: Cut Down Rice, Wheat Consumption And Increase Protein Intake To Reverse Diabetes, Says ICMR Study

"The nasal route has excellent potential for vaccination due to the organized immune systems of the nasal mucosa. It is non-invasive, and needle free," it adds and emphasizes on the elimination of needle-associated risks.

Bharat Biotech completed clinical trials of the nasal vaccine with about 4,000 volunteers. There is no side effect or adverse reaction reported so far, the Hyderabad based firm has said.

India's active caseload currently stands at 52,336. The recovery rate stands at 98.69%. A total of 4,417 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate in the country is 1.2% and the weekly positivity rate is 2.06%.

China government has also approved one nasal vaccine

China’s government approved the world’s first inhaled vaccine against COVID-19, the vaccine’s maker Cansino Biologics announced on Sunday, Fortune reported. Convidecia Air, the nasal vaccine, “can effectively induce comprehensive immune protection in response to SARS-CoV-2 after just one breath,” Cansino said in a statement. The vaccine can be inhaled through mouth using a nebulizer machine.

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