It is expected that soon Zydus Cadila’s vaccine based on indigenous technology will be available to the people. This vaccine will also be given to children above 12 years of age. Zydus Cadila has completed its trial and after that had applied to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for its emergency use. It is expected that this week DCGI can give its green signal to this vaccine of Zydus Cadila for emergency use. The vaccine has been tested on adults as well as children above 12 years of age. An official says that if DCGI is satisfied with the data of Zydus Cadila, then its emergency use can be approved.
The data provided by Cadila is being examined by a subject expert committee (SEC) of DCGI. If the committee finds the conclusion of the Phase-3 data of the vaccine satisfactory, then its approval will be given this week itself. The company has presented the data of the Phase III trial of the vaccine, in which more than 28,000 volunteers participated. Sources say that in the interim data, the vaccine has stood on the standards of safety and efficacy. If it is approved this week, then from August this vaccine will be supplied and adults as well as children will get this vaccine.
Earlier, Dr NK Arora, chairperson of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), has consistently emphasized that by the end of September, Zydus Cadila vaccine will be given to children in the age group of 12 to 18 years. Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Group said that the company will start supplying the vaccine as soon as it gets approval from DCGI. He told that the company will initially make the vaccine at the rate of one crore doses per month. After that its construction will be increased.