In a huge sigh of relief, no new variant of COVID-19 except the existing Delta and Alpha, has been identified while sequencing the breakthrough infections, Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary, Dept of Biotechnology, said .
So far, all the breakthrough infections that have been sequenced have no other variant been identified, except the Delta and the Alpha in the country, Dr Swarup was quoted by ANI as saying.
We are now expanding genome sequencing into the state departments. As of today, over 80,000 sequencings have been done not just for the existing variants but also for any new variant of significance, the Secretary, Dept of Biotechnology, said.
Dr Swarup further informed that the available COVID-19 vaccines are being tested for variants of COVID-19.
She further said that the government is looking at developing a vaccine that can be pan-corona so that if any other virus appears, the vaccine can respond to it.
On the availability of more vaccines against coronavirus, Dr Swarup said that India has a pipeline of vaccines.
Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D vaccine, the world’s first DNA vaccine against Covid-19, has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), while Biological E’s Corbevax may apply for approval by September-end, and the Bharat Biotech’s Nasal Spray Covid-19 vaccine is also undergoing trials and would be available soon in the Indian market, Dr Swarup said.
Currently, Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V vaccines are being administered in India.
Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D vaccine, the world’s first needle-free, DNA vaccine against Covid-19 received approval from DCGI on August 20 and is likely to be available from mid-September.
Meanwhile, the Union ministry of health and family welfare today confirmed that that over 57.05 crore (57,05,07,750) vaccine doses have been provided to states/UTs so far through the government (free of cost channel) and through direct state procurement category.
“More than 3.44 crore (3,44,06,720) balance and unutilised COVID vaccine doses are still available with the states/UTs to be administered,” the MoHFW said.
