ICMR aims to launch indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Aug 15
                     ICMR  aims  to  launch  indigenous  COVID-19
vaccine by Aug 15
Aiming to launch an indigenous  COVID-19 vaccine by August 15, the Indian Council of
Medical  Research  has  written  to  select  medical  institutions  and  hospitals  to  fast-track
clinical trial approvals for the vaccine candidate Covaxin being developed in collaboration
with Bharat Biotech.
Twelve clinical trial sites have been identified at present and the apex health research body
has  asked the  medical  institutions  and principal  investigators  to  ensure  that  the  subject
enrolment is initiated no later than July 7.
The  COVID-19  vaccine  candidate  Covaxin,  developed  by  the  Hyderabad-based  Bharat
Biotech in collaboration with the ICMR and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), had
recently got the nod for human clinical trials from the DCGI.
Noting that this was the first indigenous vaccine being developed by India, ICMR Director
General Dr Balram Bhargava in his letter to principal investigators of the 12 sites said that it
is one of the "top priority projects which is being monitored at the top-most level of the
government".
"It  is  envisaged  to  launch  the  vaccine  for  public  health  use  latest  by  August  15  after
completion of all clinical trials. BBIL is working expeditiously to meet the target, however,
final  outcome will  depend on the  cooperation  of  all  clinical  trial  sites  involved in  this
project.
"You have been chosen as a clinical trial site of the BBV152 COVID vaccine.In view of the
public health emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic and urgency to launch the vaccine,
you are strictly advised to fast track all approvals related to initiation of the clinical trial and
ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than July 7," Bhargava said in the
letter.
The vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by ICMR-National Institute of
Virology. Pune- ICMR and BBIL are jointly working for the preclinical as well as clinical
development of this vaccine, the letter mentions
The letter warned that any non-compliance will be viewed very seriously.
"Kindly note non-compliance will be viewed very seriously. Therefore, you are advised to
treat this project on highest priority and meet the given timelines without any lapse," the
letter stated.
A copy of the letter has been sent to the Bharat Biotech.
India's  COVID-19  cases  soared  by  over  20,000  in  a  day  for  the  first  time  taking  the
country's total tally to 6,25,544 on Friday while the death toll climbed to 18,213 with 379
new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data.