On the occasion of Republic Day, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh launched the first nasal COVID-19 vaccine. It has been made by indigenous vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech.
Delhi | Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh launch Bharat Biotech’s nasal #COVID19 Made-in-India vaccine iNCOVACC. pic.twitter.com/cSpMIUTXsL
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2023
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On the occasion of the launch, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Dr Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman, Bharat Biotech and Suchitra Ellla, Joint Managing Director, Bharat Biotech were present.
Bharat Biotech announcement
On Saturday, the company’s chairman and managing director Krishna Ella announced its launch on the occasion of Republic Day. Significantly, in December last year, Bharat Biotech announced that it would sell the vaccine at Rs 325 per shot to the government and Rs 800 per shot to private vaccination centres.
Nasal vaccine has been developed by Bharat Biotech in association with Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM). Bharat Biotech had also prepared Covaxin, the first indigenous vaccine for Corona. Bharat Biotech has named this nasal vaccine as iNCOVACC. Earlier it was named BBV154. This vaccine is delivered to the body through the nose. This vaccine blocks both infection and transmission of corona as soon as it enters the body.
Earlier, on 6 September 2022, the DGCI approved its intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, iNCOVACC, for emergency use in adults above 18 years of age. Bharat Biotech had also applied for market authorization for the intranasal heterologous booster from the DGCI.
Earlier this month, Bharat Biotech received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for the use of heterologous booster doses of iNCOVACC.
According to the Ministry of Health, this vaccine will be given as a booster. Each person will be given four drops of it.
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