ICMR Director gives update on India's COVID vaccine, says emergency authorisation possible

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed that three COVID vaccine are in testing phases in India, ICMR Director told a parliamentary panel that phase-two clinical trial of two indigeusly developed vaccine candidates have almost been completed and emergency authorisation of a vaccine could be considered if centre decides so.

On Wednesday, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Balram Bhargava informed members of parliamentary standing committee on home affairs that vaccine candidates developed by Bharat Biotech, Cila and Serum Institute of India are at different sts of trial. He elaborated that COVID-19 vaccine candidates coordinated by Bharat Biotech and Cila are nearing completion of phase-two trials.

As reported by news ncy PTI, when asked how long people will have to live with pandemic, Bhargava replied that rmally final trial takes about six to nine months but if governments decides, an emergency authorisation could be considered.

Responding to queries by panel about saliva test cleared by FDA in US for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2, Bhargava said informed that taking samples from gargled water is alrey under consideration and furr details will be available soon.

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'Hopeful for vaccine by end of this year': AIIMS Director

Joining Republic TV LIVE on special brocast of Independence Day, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi Director Dr Randeep Guleria said that he is confident that India will get a vaccine by beginning of next year. Dr Randeep Guleria highlighted how India has changed a pandemic into an opportunity but cautioned against taking situation for granted. He said that even though number of recoveries has reached 18 lakhs, re is a possibility of second wave if precautions are t taken. He also elaborated on COVID-19 vaccines that are in testing phases.

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India's COVID tally

With 64,531 people testing positive in a day, India's COVID-19 tally climbed to 27,67,273 on Wednesday, while recoveries crossed 20-lakh mark pushing recovery rate to 73.64 per cent, according to Union Health Ministry data. death toll climbed to 52,889 with 1,092 people succumbing to disease in a span of 24 hours, data updated at 8 am showed. Case fatality rate has declined to 1.91 per cent. re are 6,76,514 active cases of coronavirus infection in country which is 24.45 per cent of total caselo, while number of recoveries has surged to 20,37,870.

(with PTI inputs)

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