In what could be termed as the biggest news of the day, the Indian
Council for Medical Research has partnered with Bharat Biotech
International Limited (BBIL) to bring out the COVID19 vaccine by the
Independence Day on August 15, 2020.
Another big news for Goa is that a Goa based Doctor Dr Vivek
Redkar, consultant physician, Redkar hospital, Dhargal Pernem is
named one of the five one of the hospitals for clinical trials of the
vaccine.
“ICMR has partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL)
to fast-track clinical trials of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine
(BBV152 COVID Vaccine),” said ICMR in a letter to the selected
hospitals.
This is the first indigenous vaccine being developed by India and is
one of the top priority projects which is being monitored at the
topmost level of the Government.
“The vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS CoV-2 isolated by ICMR-
National Institute of Virology, Pune, ICMR and BBIL are jointly
working for the preclinical as well as clinical development of this
vaccine,” ICMR says.
Further, it says that it is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public
health use latest by 15 August 2020 after completion of all clinical
trials. BBIL is working expeditiously to meet the target.
“However final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical
trial sites involved in this project. In view of the public health
emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic and urgency to launch the
vaccine, the hospitals are strictly advised to fast track all approvals
related to initiation of the clinical trial and ensure that the subject
enrolment is initiated no later than 7 July 2020,” the ICMR said.
It added, non-compliance will be viewed very seriously.
Therefore, ICMR has advised to treat this project on highest priority
and meet the given timelines without any lapse.
Other hospitals selected are from Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, Odisha
and Uttar Pradesh.
