AIIMS Director reveals 'Launch Date' Details of India's First 'Corona' Vaccine!

The clinical trial of the indigenous coronavirus vaccine in India, had received approval for clinical trials. While the trials are being conducted at AIIMS Delhi, the hospital’s director on Monday, spoke to the reporters.

He has revealed that the trial will have to undergo 3 phases at AIIMS. Initially, the test will be conducted on healthy volunteers between the age group 18-55. Around 375 people will be chosen for this phase. Within 4 or 6 weeks, they will analyse the volunteers. “In the first phase we see the safety of the vaccine which is of primary importance and the dose range is also calculated,” said Guleria, the Director of AIIMS.

He revealed that in the second phase, 750 volunteers within the age group of 12-65 will be studied. “We see how immunogenic it is and that is subsequently followed by phase 3, which involves a larger population to assess its efficacy and therapeutic benefit,” he said.

Further, when asked about the availability of a vaccine for public use, he said, “So, predicting exactly when the vaccine is going to be ready is a difficult business. But then say if everything works out ideally, then by the end of the year or early next year, we should be in a position to say that we can start manufacturing. But then there are lot of ifs and buts in that.

“We are very good in mass production. Even if a vaccine comes from any part of the world. India will be involved in its production because 60 per cent or more of the vaccines of the world are being made in India.”

“Launching of vaccine depends on its overall trial, we will have to check the effectiveness of the vaccine for at least 6 months. By the end of this year or early next year, there are chances that we will have a vaccine,” revealed Dr Sanjay Rai, head of community medicine at AIIMS.