Zydus Cadila developed ZyCoV-D vaccine in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology. India becomes the first country to develop a DNA vaccine.
In a move that will boost our inoculation process, Zydus Cadila's COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D got an emergency use authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Friday. Zydus Cadila had applied for the emergency use authorisation of ZyCoV-D in July.
Zydus Cadila has developed the ZyCoV-D vaccine in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology. With this, India becomes the first country to develop a DNA vaccine for COVID-19.
This vaccine can be administered to even children, aged 12 and above. In a late-stage trial of over 28,000 volunteers nationwide the efficacy rate was found to be 66.6%, CDSCO tweeted. Reportedly, this is the largest COVID-19 vaccine trial so far in India.
The ZyCoV-D vaccine is needle-free and is to be administered intradermally using PharmaJet, a needle-free applicator that ensures painless vaccination. This will help in administering the vaccine to kids. This vaccine will be given in three doses - the second dose administered on day 28 from the first dose and the third ones on day 56 from the first dose.
1. ZyCoV-D vaccine is needle-free
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The ZyCoV-D vaccine is needle-free and is to be administered intradermally using PharmaJet, a needle-free applicator that ensures painless vaccination. This will help in administering the vaccine to kids. This vaccine will be given in three doses - the second dose administered on day 28 from the first dose and the third ones on day 56 from the first dose.
(Image Source: Twitter)
2. ZyCoV-D is the first Plasmid DNA vaccine
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As per experts, the ZyCoV-D vaccine uses a section of genetic material from the COVID-19 virus that gives instructions as either DNA or RNA to make the specific protein that the human immune system recognises and responds to.
(Image Source: Twitter)
3. ZyCoV-D can quickly deal with mutations in virus
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The ZyCoV-D doesn't have any problem associated with vector-based immunity because it is a Plasmid DNA vaccine. The Plasmid DNA platform also allows generating new constructs quickly to deal with mutations in the virus.
(Image Source: ANI Digital)
4. ZyCoV-D vaccine is stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius
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Unlike Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that need to be stored at very cold temperatures, the ZyCoV-D vaccine is stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius and has shown good stability at temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius for at least three months.
(Image Source: Twitter)
5. ZyCoV-D vaccine effective against Delta variant
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The company has claimed that the ZyCoV-D vaccine is effective against the new COVID-19 variants like the deadly Delta variant. The company plans to manufacture between 100 million and 120 million doses annually and has begun stockpiling them.
(Image Source: Twitter@IndianEmbassyTR)
