India looking at 4 more Covid vaccines, says Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan | Check vaccine prices

India's Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said on Tuesday that the country's regulators are looking at four more Covid-19 vaccines in the pipeline. Among these are the vaccines developed by Zydus Cadilla, Russia's Sputnik-V, Biological E and Gennova.

Zydus Cadilla completed the Phase 2 clinical trials of its coronavirus vaccine in December of last year and has been granted approval for Phase 3. Similarly, the Phase 2 clinical trials of Russia's Sputnik-V Covid-19 vaccine have also concluded and Phase 3 trials are being carried out by its Indian partner Dr Reddy's Laboratories.

In the case of Biological E, the Phase 1 clinical trials of its vaccine started in December and Phase 2 is expected to begin in March. Gennova's RnA-based Covid-19 vaccine is currently in Phase 1 with Phase 2 clinical trials likely to begin in March of this year.

US pharma giant Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine will be priced at Rs 2,800 for two doses while Moderna's will cost anywhere between Rs 2,300 to Rs 2,700 per dose. One vaccine developed by China has been priced at Rs 5,600 per dose while another Chinese vaccine will be made available in India at Rs 1,200 per dose.

Sputnik-V, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Russia will cost Rs 734 per dose while the one developed by Johnson & Johnson is also expected to be priced at Rs 734 per dose.

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The Government of India is purchasing 100 million doses of the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine Covishield from Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) at the cost of Rs 200 per dose, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said.

He went on to add that Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's coronavirus vaccine Covaxin is being purchased at a cost of Rs 206 per dose by the Government of India. This vaccine was developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV). The Centre is purchasing 38 lakh doses of Covaxin and will get the remaining 12 lakh doses free.

Taking stock of Covid-19 in India

The Covid-19 situation is very worrisome across the world, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told reporters adding that active cases continue to decline in India. "Now, active cases are 2,16,558. This sort of number was last seen on 30 June 2020," he said.

While stating that active cases are 2 per cent of the total confirmed cases, the Health Secretary also said that the infection has claimed 1,51,000 lives in India but the case positivity is dropping. "Last week was only 2 per cent. The case fatality rate last week was 1.2 per cent," he added.

Rajeev Bhushan also said that two states alone account for more than 50,000 active cases in India, namely Kerala (63,000) and Maharashtra (53,400). "Only 44 per cent of active cases are in hospitals while 56 per cent of active cases are in home isolation," he added.

Asked about the vaccines approved by Indian regulators, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said both Covishield and Covaxin have established safety and immunogenicity. "All preparations are on track for vaccine rollout. It will be a sequential rollout, depending on availability," he added.

The Government Medical Store Department (GMSD) in Karnal, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai will be treated as the four main storage centres for the vaccine rollout, Bhushan said adding that one regional vaccination store will also be designated in each state but some states may have more.

"We also hope states that at the highest level will exercise continuous oversight and personal involvement in the entire process of the rollout. There is a gap of 28 days between the two doses. Effectiveness begins 14 days after receiving the second dose. Communication must highlight this aspect and Covid-appropriate behaviour," Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said.

NITI Aayog member and chairman of the National Expert Group On Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), Dr VK Paul said, "We should have no doubt that the two vaccines approved are the safest of the vaccines. Side effects are negligible. There is no risk of any significance, let's be reassured. We are telling you this truthfully and with responsibility."

"Yesterday, IMA has given a call that every member will embrace the vaccines and supported the idea of having two indigenous vaccines. We can see four vaccines in the immediate timeline in the country," Dr Paul added.

Director-General (DG) of ICMR, Dr Balram Bhargava told reporters, "Vaccine dose will be given four weeks apart. Some literature shows it can be given up to six weeks but we'd like to stick to four weeks."