Who is producing the Biological-E Vaccine?

The COVID vaccine is being produced by the oldest private vaccine company in India, Hyderabad based pharmaceutical company, Biological E. The name of the vaccine is yet unknown. The vaccine was recommended for approval by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), after it was cleared for Phase 3 clinical trials by the Drugs Control General of India (DGCI).

Biological E's COVID vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine. To put it simply, a subunit vaccine uses only specific components of the pathogen, like particular antigens that best stimulate the desired immune response.

What is the status of the vaccine?

According to the Ministry of Home and Family Welfare (MoHFW), this vaccine is in phase 3 of its clinical trials after showing "promising results" in phases 1 and 2. In these trials, the vaccine was found to be "safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic." The phase 3 trials are being conducted on 1,268 healthy subjects, across 15 places in India, in the age range of 18 to 80 years.

When will it be available?

According to the ministry's statement, the Biological E is set to manufacture and stockpile doses of the vaccine between August and December , and the vaccine is likely to be available "in the next few months."

What will the dosage schedule be like?

It is a two-dose vaccine. According to the company, in the clinical trials, the vaccine doses were administered with a gap of 28 days.

Is the government involved in the manufacturing of this homegrown vaccine?

According to a statement by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the government has made an advance payment of Rs 1,500 crore to the company for the production of these vaccines.

Is Biological E manufacturing other vaccines too?

Biological-E is the oldest vaccine manufacturing company in India and makes vaccines for diseases like tetanus, measles, rubella. Apart from the vaccine in question, Biological-E also has other COVID vaccines in the pipeline.

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FAQ | Biological E’s Made-in-India Vaccine: How Does It Work?

Biological E’s COVID vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine, a widely used vaccine technology.

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Updated: 05 Jun 2021, 1:22 PM IST

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On 3 June, it was announced that the Center has booked 30 crore doses of a COVID-19 vaccine being manufactured by Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company, Biological E.

The announcement comes on the heels of the Supreme Court slamming the Centre's vaccine policy and management in India.

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Topics: COVID-19 COVID-19 FAQ coronavirus FAQ

Published: 05 Jun 2021, 8:35 AM IST