All you need to know about the world’s first Covid-19 nasal vaccine - iNCOVACC
Dec 27, 2022
Credit: Bharat Biotech
World’s first intranasal vaccine
Bharat Biotech’s iNCOVACC is the first approved intranasal vaccine in the world. The vaccine will be available in the Indian market by the fourth week of January 2023.
Credit: Bharat Biotech
Nasal vaccine as booster dose
The Indian health ministry said that those who have taken Covishield and Covaxin could take the nasal vaccine as a booster dose.
Credit: BCCL
Cost of the vaccine
On Tuesday, December 27, the Centre approved the cost of the vaccine - ₹800 for private hospitals and ₹325 for government ones.
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Approval from CDSCO
World's first intranasal vaccine for COVID got approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) last week. It has received both primary series and heterologous booster approval.
Credit: BCCL
Initially, only restricted approval provided
The vaccine had earlier got restricted approval - only to be used in emergency situations for people aged 18 and above for a primary 2-dose schedule, according to news agency ANI.
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Who can get this vaccine?
Those who are over 18 years old and have already received two doses of Covid-19 vaccine can get this vaccine as a booster dose in India.
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How will the vaccine be administered?
It is a non-invasive, needle-free vaccine, which will be administered through the nose. The doctor will spray the vaccine into nostrils with a small syringe that has no needle.
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How does it work?
According to media reports, the vaccine will take at least two weeks to start working on one’s body. It leads to the immune system forming proteins in the blood and nose which helps in fighting the virus.
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"We have achieved the goals we set for ourselves during this pandemic.
We have developed COVAXIN and iNCOVACC, two Covid vaccines from two different platforms, with two different delivery systems,” Dr. Krishna Ella, executive chairman, Bharat Biotech, told IANS.
Credit: Bharat Biotech