Covid-19 cases in India: India’s first (messenger ribonucleic acid) mRNA-based Omicron booster dose has got Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). According to Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, the vaccine is likely to be rolled out within 2-3 weeks.
Dr Sanjay Singh, CEO of the Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd said that there is a need for booster doses against the coronavirus in India. “India still requires a booster dose against SARS-CoV2. The efficacy of original vaccines is limited against the Omicron lineage. There is a need for an updated vaccine and we are anticipating enough demand for this vaccine,” he added.
The GemCovac-OM is a lyophilised (freeze-dried) booster dose by the Pune-based firm. Adults and those above the age of 18 years would receive the jab intradermally with the PharmaJet Tropis Precision Delivery System (PDS).
GemCovac-OM will be delivered intradermally with the PDS to adults
It will be delivered intradermally with the PharmaJet Tropis Precision Delivery System (PDS) to adults 18 years of age and older. It remains stable at 2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius. According to Singh, the GemCovac-OM vaccine is safe and compatible with the current refrigeration supply chain across India.
“Even though the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the coronavirus is no longer a public health emergency, the booster dose developed by us remains relevant as coronavirus, specifically, Omicron and its sub-lineages are still prevalent in many parts of the country. It has been scientifically proven that the existing vaccines are not effective to tackle specific variants. The need is for a tailor-made vaccine to target specific variants,” Singh added.
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The vaccine has been developed in association with the Department of Biotechnology. It was evaluated for its safety and immunogenicity as a booster in about 3,000 people from across 13 cities in India who received two doses of Covishield and Covaxin. The company has not shared any detail about the price.