The Race for the First COVID-19 Vaccine in India: Updated Outlook

India, the world's second-most populous country, has been eagerly waiting for its first locally manufactured vaccine. In this article, we will explore the current landscape of vaccine development, focusing on the race to deliver the first COVID-19 vaccine to India. We will also discuss the challenges and potential timelines for the various vaccines in contention.

Domestic Fahrenheit: ZycovD from Zydus Cadila

The eagerly awaited contender as India's sixth coronavirus vaccine is ZycovD, produced by the domestic vaccine maker Zydus Cadila. The company has announced that it will begin distributing its first manufactured doses by the end of October. However, this promising development has encountered several technical hurdles, notably the vaccine's exorbitant pricing of Rs 1900 per dose, which will be administered in a three-dose regimen as an intradermal vaccine with needle administration. As of the publication date, the Indian Health Ministry has not included ZycovD in its ongoing National Immunization drive due to pricing concerns.

International Heat: Russia's Sputnik V

More than 18 million SputnikV vaccines are expected to be shipped from Russia to India in batches. Some quantities have already been received, with 850 million doses to be produced in India by March 2022. Dr. Reddy's Lab in Hyderabad is the nodal agency responsible for import liaison, testing, storage, and distribution. Major players involved in the production include Dr. Reddy's Lab and Serum Institute of Pune.

A Race to the Finish Line: Phase 3 Trials

The race for the first COVID-19 vaccine is heating up as multiple vaccines enter the last stage of trials, Phase-3. Unlike the early phases with only a few volunteers, Phase-3 trials involve thousands of participants across various age groups, genders, and regions. This phase is crucial as it provides robust data about the vaccine's efficacy and safety.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca Contender

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to be available for public use in India as early as January 2021, thanks to a contractual agreement for 18 million vaccines to be shipped from Russia. AstraZeneca's vaccine is based on a 50-year-old platform, a chimpanzee adenovirus vector-based antigen that has been used in clinical trials for other vaccines. The vaccine may be launched under the 'Covishield' brand.

Modern Innovations: Pfizer and Moderna

On the other hand, vaccine developers Pfizer and Moderna are using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, a new and innovative platform. While Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines were found to be 90% and 62% effective in their trials, respectively, there is less confidence in the safety profile of the AstraZeneca vaccine compared to its mRNA counterparts.

The Cold Chain Challenge

The storage requirements for the AstraZeneca vaccine are lower, at 2-8 degrees Celsius, making it easier for India to store and distribute. However, challenges in distribution and limited production mean that the immunization drive in India could stretch until 2024. The government hospital price for Covishield will be Rs 220, while private hospitals could charge Rs 500-600 per dose.

Indigenous Hope: Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila

Three vaccine candidates are expected to be launched after January 2021. Bharat Biotech, known for its inactivated virus vaccine, is expected to launch its vaccine by March or April. Zydus Cadila is also set to launch its three-dose DNA plasmid vaccine. Both of these indigenous vaccines are expected to provide over 500 million doses in 2021, provided they successfully complete their trials and receive regulatory approvals. Russia's Sputnik V is expected to be launched around April 2021.

As India races towards its first locally manufactured vaccine, the challenges of distribution and limited production continue to weigh heavily. However, the diversity of vaccine candidates and the strategic partnerships demonstrated promise for the future of India's vaccine rollout.