COVID-19 oral vaccine's clinical trial to begin in India soon
What's the story
Vaxart, a United States-based biotechnology company, is set to begin the second phase of clinical trial for its oral COVID-19 vaccine in India, according to a report by News18.
The California-headquartered company had launched its global trial in October last year under which it gave doses to nearly 100 participants.
Here's what you need to know about it.
Context
Why does this story matter?
If proven successful, oral vaccines would be a big step forward in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
They are relatively easier to store and can be transported without the need for refrigeration, meaning they can potentially help save money as well as time.
They also remove injury risks that are associated with needle-based vaccines.
Testing
CDL receives vaccine samples for testing
Samples of the oral vaccine made by Vaxart have been sent to the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.
Bengaluru-based Syngene International has imported the pills and will also carry out trials in India on behalf of the American company.
"The samples of COVID vaccine pill have been received for testing (sic)," a senior official in the Health Ministry confirmed to News18.
Vaccine
An oral recombinant vaccine
The pills are called VXA-CoV2 Enteric-coated tablets.
The oral recombinant vaccine can be administered by consuming the tablets.
Participants will receive two doses of the vaccine nearly a month apart and they will be followed for the next six months for efficacy.
In a statement issued last year, Vaxart officials had said the vaccine produced "much higher serum antibody levels" in non-human primate studies.
Vaccination
India's COVID-19 vaccination drive
Meanwhile, India has administered more than 170 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses so far.
More than 75% of India's adult population has been fully vaccinated, as per government data.
Further, over 1.50 crore booster doses have been administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers, and senior citizens.
In the coming weeks, the country is expected to open its vaccination program for the 12-14 age group.
Situation
COVID-19 situation in India
On Wednesday, India added 71,365 new coronavirus infections, marking a surge of 5.5% from Tuesday's case count.
The positivity rate dropped to 4.5%, according to the Health Ministry's data, while the recovery rate has improved to 96.70%.
Meanwhile, the country's COVID-19 death toll has climbed to 5,05,279 with more than 1,200 more related fatalities.