Context: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech approval for conducting Phase 3 clinical trials of an intranasal booster dose for those who have received both doses of Covaxin.
The chimpanzee adenovirus vectored COVID-19 vaccine (BBV154) will be administered through an intranasal route, and each single dose is 0.5 ml.
Experts have noted that an intranasal vaccine as a booster will be easier to administer in mass vaccination drives.
By reducing the need for needles and syringes, among others, such vaccines would also impact the overall cost of a vaccination drive.
Nasal vaccine
A nasal vaccine is a vaccine administered to a person via the nose and does not require a needle.
It induces immunity through the inner surface of the nose, a surface that naturally comes in contact with many airborne microbes
About Drugs Controller General of India
He is the head of department of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization of the Government of India.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation works in close collaboration with the state control administration and assist them in securing uniform enforcement of the Drug Act.
Responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines, and sera in India.
DCGI also sets standards for manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India.
Comes under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
