India has not had any vaccines against the XBB 1. 5 variant lately.
Hyderabad-based Biological E has begun trials of a next-generation Covid vaccine to combat the XBB1. 5 variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus and expects initial effects in June.
Last month, a committee of experts in the box granted authorization to the Pune-founded Serum Institute of India for a COVID-19 vaccine based on the Omicron XBB1. 5 variant, with an exemption from local clinical trials for emergency use.
Currently, India does not have any vaccine against the XBB 1. 5 variant.
“None of the available vaccines protect against the strains of COVID-19 that are circulating lately or those that are likely to emerge,” senior epidemiologist Dr. Jayaprakash Muliyil told Business Standard.
“On the other hand, the Omicron organization has proven to be mild and does not require protection. Omicron also confers immunity against COVID-19,” Dr. Muliyil added.
The WHO said the SARS-CoV-2 virus has continued to evolve with genetic and antigenic tweaks to the spike protein.
Given the current evolution of Sars-CoV-2 and the extent of immune responses demonstrated through monovalent XBB1. 5 vaccines as opposed to circulating variants, the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) called in December for XBB 1. 5 to be maintained as a COVID-19 vaccine. antigen.
A company insider told Business Standard that it has already started clinical trials at several sites and expects to publish the initial effects in June.
On Dec. 7, the SEC approved a prospective, randomized, single-blind phase 3 comparison to compare the immunogenicity and protection of Covid-19 vaccines, a subunit of the XBB 1. 5 receptor-binding domain of biological E in Americans. elderly people from five to 80 years old.
At the same time, the SEC granted authorization to the vaccine based on the XBB 1. 5 variant of the SII for limited emergency use with an exemption to local clinical trials.
This vaccine, based on the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by IBS and another strain (XBB 1. 5), is recommended for use in people over 12 years of age.
Novovax is approved in countries such as the United States and the European Union (EU) bloc.
The SEC noted in its report that about 42 million doses had been exported to the U. S. The U. S. and EU had been administered as of April and that 200,000 doses had been administered in the U. S. To date.
The committee of experts on the subject also pointed out that there is an “unmet medical need” in the country.
“At this time, there is no vaccine containing the XBB 1. 5 strain approved in the country,” he said.
Phase four studies aim to determine the functionality of a drug or vaccine in real-world scenarios to investigate the long-term dangers and benefits of the product.
These advances are vital as COVID-19 resurfaces in some parts of the world. Singapore is following a new wave of infections, with weekly cases doubling to 25,900 by mid-May and the average state of hospitalizations at 250.
The Singapore government has asked public hospitals to perform elective surgeries to increase bed capacity.
These are the standards issued by the WHO on influenza strains and on the antigen that will be used to expand influenza vaccines.
Experts recommend keeping an emergency vaccine inventory. Dr. Shahid Jameel, a virologist and researcher at the University of Oxford’s Green Templeton College, recently told Business Standard: “India has covered enough population with vaccines and infections, but protein vaccines are still lacking. “for a fee. For older people and people with comorbidities.
Dr Jameel said that even if older people had received their 3 vaccines, those vaccines would be available, but the government would not be forced to make them free.
Presentation of the report: Ashish Narsale/Rediff. com