Covaxin, the creation of Hyderabad’s Bharat Biotech is efficient in neutralizing double mutant variants and multiple others of SARS-CoV-2, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The announcement was made today as concerns grow over the mutating characteristics of the virus. Covaxin was the second vaccine to receive Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to inoculate Indians against covid-19. It has also been given EUAs by various other countries across the globe to help people in the covid battle. 60 more countries are on their way to approve the vaccine for mass vaccination.
The ICMR posted on Twitter saying, “ICMR study shows Covaxin neutralises against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well.”
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Speaking about the efficacy of Covaxin and the discovery, Dr Samiran Panda, chief of epidemiology and communicable diseases division of ICMR, called it good news and hoped for a decreased level of anxiety and scare among people given the second wave of the coronavirus and the little information available on it till now.
The statement of the health body also added about the indigenous vaccine saying, “ICMR-National Institute of Virology has successfully isolated and cultured multiple variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 virus: B.1.1.7 (the UK variant), B.1.1.28 (Brazil variant ) and B.1.351 (South Africa variant).”
This proved its neutralization potential against the mutant forms of the UK and Brazil that are also growing in large numbers in the country. The ICMR further said that it has reached success in isolating and culturing the double mutant strain of coronavirus- B.1.617 SARS-CoV-2. This form had been identified in some areas of India and many different countries of the world.
“Covaxin has been found to effectively neutralise the double mutant strain as well,” the top health body added in the statement.
After the completion of the inoculation drive for people above the age of 45 years, citizens above 18 years of age are going to receive the vaccine doses to stay protected from the deadly virus.
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It has become immensely important for an efficient vaccine to be administered to the mass population as India breaks all previous records to register close to 3 lakh cases, shaking the country’s core.
