Union Health Minister to introduce the first nasal Covid vaccination developed in India today

The world’s first nasal vaccine developed in India, “iNCOVACC,” will be introduced by Union Minister for Health Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday, giving India’s vaccination programme against the Covid-19 virus a boost. The declaration was made following the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization’s (CDSCO) clearance of the use of heterologous booster doses of iNCOVACC by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.

The nasal vaccine is expected to be available in Indian markets from February next week. Recently, the company has also announced using iNCOVACC (BBV154) as a booster dose against the Covid-19 virus.

“iNCOVACC® is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This vaccine candidate was evaluated in phases I, II, and III clinical trials with successful results. iNCOVACC® has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops. The nasal delivery system has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low- and middle-income countries.” the statement for the company read.

The vaccine is priced at  ₹800 for private markets while for the supplies to Union and State governments, Bharat Biotech has kept the price at  ₹325. The nasal vaccine for now is not available on CoWin.

“The objectives we had for ourselves during this pandemic have been met. Two COVID vaccines from two separate platforms with two different delivery systems have been developed by us: COVAXIN® and iNCOVACC®. The vectored intranasal delivery technology enables us to quickly scale up, develop new products, and provide simple, painless immunisation during pandemics and public health emergencies. We appreciate the support and advice provided by the Ministry of Health, CDSCO, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Technology Development Board, and Washington University in St. Louis “The Executive Chairman, Dr. Krishna Ella, remarked.

Prominent ministers and government officials will be among the other senior representatives attending the event.
The first needleless test administered as a booster dosage will be iNCOVACC.