India Conducts Human Trials For COVID-19 Vaccine

The RDIF, also known as the Russian Direct Investment Fund has been working with a pharmaceutical company called Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in India to create a vaccine for coronavirus since September. They have received approval to conduct the later stages of the clinical trials on people in India. 

They were ready to conduct large sample sizes for their trials in India for the Sputnik V vaccine, however regulators suggested that the previous trials that were done in Russia were too small. Thus, they were not a valid representation of the whole country and unsafe to proceed in advanced trials. They therefore decided that the tests in Russia must be repeated to avoid any biases. In addition, this is evident as phase two trials will use controlled randomized study which will include influencing factors such as safety and immunity. The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has promoted the vaccine and wants to establish the country as first in the race to eradicate coronavirus. 

The RDIF will provide around 100 million doses to the pharmaceutical company. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories will now be able to proceed with the advanced stages of the clinical trials, using about 15,000 volunteers to test the vaccine. The contract suggests that they will continue with the human trials and if they get approval, they will be able to administer the vaccine within India.

Another vaccine will also be distributed in India which is the Astraneza-Oxford vaccine. India will get 60 to 70 million doses of the vaccine by December. However, it is probable that the vaccine will be ready to be sold to the mainstream public by March of next year. This is due to licensing which will likely take from December 2020 to March 2021. The company, Pune’s Serum Institute of India is also conducting phase two and three of the clinical trials. Their goal is to administer an estimated 250 million vaccines by July 2021. 

The dose will also require a booster shot which should be prepared through the initial stage once the vaccine is approved. They will prioritize individuals based on those who are at high risk. This includes health workers, police force, seniors and those with comorbidities. In addition, availability will be subject to location. This is because some states in India have more cases of coronavirus than others. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi says that due to India’s current state, he wants to ensure that the vaccine is made quickly and is safe to distribute. Therefore, he wants to prioritize the well-being and safety of its citizens. 

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