‘ZyCov-D’ vaccine

‘ZyCov-D’ vaccine

Part of: GS Prelims 

In news: The Drug Controller General has granted emergency approval to the Zycov-D, a COVID-19 vaccine.

• This is the fifth vaccine, after Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V and Moderna to be approved for use in India. 

About Zycov-D

• Zycov-D is a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Ahmedabad based Zydus Cadilla group and is the first vaccine in India that can be administered to adults as well as those 12 and above. 
• It’s also the only DNA-based vaccine in the world and can be administered without a needle, purportedly minimizing chances of reactions.
• The vaccine has been developed in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology under the ‘Mission COVID Suraksha’.
• The three-dose vaccine once administered produces the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and elicits an immune response. 
• The plug-and-play technology on which the plasmid DNA platform is based can be easily adapted to deal with mutations in the virus, such as those already occurring.

News Source: PIB