OdishaPlus Bureau
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Secretary Renu Swarup said on Monday informed that five sites across India are ready for the IIIrd and final phase of human trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The Pune-based SII has sought permission from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for conducting Phase II and III human clinical trials of the vaccine. DBT is working with manufacturers and Phase III trial of Serum (institute) is important because if the vaccine has to be successful and it has to be given to the Indian population.
On July 20, scientists announced that the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University appears safe and induces a strong immune response within the body after the first phase of “promising” human trials against the deadly disease that has infected over 1.45 crore people across the world and claimed more than six lakh lives. The results show they induced strong antibody and T-cell immune responses for up to 56 days after they were given.
In Phase II of human trials, a vaccine is given to a small number of people to test safety. It is also given to check if it stimulates the immune system. In the Phase II, it is administered to hundreds of people split into groups such as children and the elderly to see if the vaccine acts differently in them. The two phases focus on safety and immunogenicity in humans. In the Phase III, the vaccine is administered to thousands of people. In India, two indigenous vaccines one by Zydus Cadila and the other by Bharat Biotech have reached the stage of phase one of human trials.