ICMR looks at vaccine launch by Aug. 15

ICMR looks at vaccine launch by Aug. 15

Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Science – Health and Medicine

In news:

• Covaxin – developed by the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech India Ltd (BBIL) got approvals from the Drug Controller General of India for human trials.
• The trials are done on groups of people and are meant to test if the vaccine is safe on humans and produces protective antibodies.
• The potential vaccine in question is a SARS-CoV-2 strain sourced from the ICMR-National Institute of Virology.
• It is envisaged to launch the vaccine latest by 15th August, 2020 after completion of all clinical trials.