COVID19 Vaccine in India: When will Mass Production Begin? Who will Get it First? Details

With the continuous rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, the scientists and researchers are still trying to develop a vaccine. Almost 150 vaccine candidates are at different stages of trials across the world. India is working on three vaccines at the moment.  "Not one, not two, as many as three coronavirus vaccines are being tested in India," Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated during his speech on 74th Independence Day.

At present, two vaccine candidates are at phase I and II of clinical human trials. India’s first indigenous coronavirus vaccine, COVAXIN has been developed by Bharat BioTech, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV). Similarly, another vaccine was developed by Zydus Cadila. 

While, Serum Institute of India (SII) has received permission for conducting Phase II and III human clinical trials of vaccine candidate which are develped by University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, it has also collaborated with British Swedish firm to manufacture vaccine for low- and middle-income countries. 

When will we have a COVID-19 vaccine

A lot of questions regarding mass production of the vaccines are being raised at the moment. PM Modi said during his speech on Independence Day said that, “When scientists will give us the green signal, it will be produced on a mass scale and all preparations have been made for it.”

"I want to tell people, the talent of our scientists is like that of 'rishi munis' and they are working very hard in laboratories," Modi added.

Who will get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Modi said on Saturday that India has already prepared a roadmap for vaccine distribution and he said the govt will "ensure that a COVID-19 vaccine reaches everyone in the shortest possible time.

Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey too said on Saturday that scientists have been working hard on the coronavirus vaccine and if their efforts come to fruition, COVID19 warriors are likely to be the first ones to get the dose. 

"Our scientists are working very hard on it. Three vaccines against COVID-19 are in various stages of testing. And, if we do succeed in getting a vaccine, our COVID warriors will be the first one to receive the dose," Choubey added.

What will be the price of the vaccine?

When Adar Poonawalla, the Chief Executive Officer of SII was asked about the pricing of Oxford University’s vaccine candidate, he said, “It is too early to comment on the vaccine’s price. However, we will keep it under ₹1,000 per dose."

He also added that it generally requires two or more doses.