Dr Mansukh Mandaviya unveils world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, iNNCOVACC
iNCOVACC is a cost-effective covid vaccine which does not require syringes, needles, alcohol wipes, bandages
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare unveiled the iNNCOVACC COVID-19 vaccine in the presence of Union Minister of State (IC) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh. iNNCOVACC is the world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine to receive approval for the primary two-dose schedule and as a heterologous booster dose. It is developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) in collaboration with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance (BIRAC), a PSU under the Dept of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Union Health Minister added that India’s vaccine manufacturing and innovation capability is appreciated all over the world as it has made a mark in producing quality and affordable medicines. He also highlighted that BBIL in collaboration with ICMR introduced COVAXIN in India within a month of the launch of the first COVID vaccine in the world.
Dr Singh said, “India has taken a lead in developing vaccines and medicines for diseases common in the developing world.”
He also stated that ZyCoV-D, the world’s first and India’s indigenously developed DNA-based vaccine for Covid-19 to be administered in humans including children and adults 12 years and above, was also developed in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology in the Ministry of Science & Technology under ‘Mission Covid Suraksha’ through BIRAC.
iNCOVACC is a cost-effective covid vaccine which does not require syringes, needles, alcohol wipes, bandages, etc, saving costs related to procurement, distribution, storage, and biomedical waste disposal, that is routinely required for injectable vaccines. It utilizes a vector-based platform, which can be easily updated with emerging variants leading to large-scale production, within a few months. These rapid response timelines combined with the ability of cost-effective and easy intranasal delivery make it an ideal vaccine to address future infectious diseases.
A rollout of iNCOVACC is expected to begin in private hospitals that have placed advance orders. An initial manufacturing capacity of several million doses per annum has been established, this can be scaled up to a billion doses as required. iNCOVACC is priced at INR 325/dose for large volume procurement by state gvernments and Govt of India.
Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Dept of Biotechnology, Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board and other senior officials of the Ministry were present on the occasion. Dr Krishna Ella, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Bharat Biotech and Smt. Suchitra Ella, Co-Founder and MD, Bharat Biotech were also present.
