Bharat Biotech’s COVID vaccine, COVAXIN, has provided neutralising titres (concentrations) against all main evolving variants studied, including the B.1.617 and B.1.1.7, which were first detected in India and the United Kingdom, according to the vaccine manufacturer.
When opposed to the vaccine version, the B.1.617 variant had a small decrease in neutralisation by a factor of 1.95. (D614G).
Suchitra Ella, Bharat Biotech’s joint managing director, cited a thesis conducted in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
“Covaxin gets international recognition yet again, by scientific research data published demonstrating protection against the new variants. Yet another feather in its cap,” tweeted Suchitra Ella, the co-founder and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Biotech.
Despite this decrease, neutralizing titer levels of B.1.617 remain above protective levels, according to the report.
“No difference in neutralization between B.1.1.7 (first found in the UK) and vaccine strain (D614G) was observed,” Bharat Biotech added.
These results come from a report conducted in conjunction with the India Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology.
COVAXIN is one of three COVID-19 vaccines now on the market in the United States.
As the vaccine’s third phase of testing was ongoing, it was launched in clinical trial mode.
There were also concerns raised about allowing other firms to import the vaccine in light of the current shortage, which has hindered vaccination in the country despite the ongoing, violent second wave of Covid caused by lethal virus variants.
The Centre has also stated that it is able to increase supply by enlisting the help of other vaccine manufacturers.
Experts warn about an upcoming third wave, which many believe would target infants, raising fears about low vaccination rates. Many scientists have suggested that all adults be vaccinated first, in the hopes of breaking the transmission chain.
COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed in a total of 18,22,20,164 doses throughout the world, according to the Union Health Ministry.
