India needs new vaccine launches to meet targets | Economic Times

New jabs will soon need to be launched and existing capacities rapidly scaled up, if the government’s projections for vaccine availability and production are to be met. The government had in a presentation in May estimated that 216 crore vaccines will be available in the country between August and December. Subsequently, in an affidavit filed by the authorities with the Supreme Court in June, this projection was scaled down to 135 crore jabs. But, with the exception of Covishield, it’s not clear whether any other vaccine maker will be able to deliver the jabs in the estimated quantities. Out of the five vaccines mentioned in the Supreme Court affidavit, one is still undergoing clinical trials and another is awaiting regulatory approvals. The production of Covaxin and Sputnik V, the two other vaccines that are available in the country, is lagging way behind projections.85259296Biological E’s anti Covid-19 shot Corbevax is currently undergoing Phase-3 clinical trials and there is no clarity about its launch date. The government had estimated that Bio E would account for 30 crore jabs from August to December. Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila had applied for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for its vaccine on July 1, but the application is yet to be taken up by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) that advises the drug regulator on approvals for vaccines, new drugs and clinical trials.