India To Have These 8 COVID-19 Vaccines By the End of 2021

According to the government sources, India will have 216 crore doses available in the form of eight different vaccines for the COVID-19 vaccination drive by the end of 2021. Dr. VK Paul, NITI Aayog member (Health) has reportedly stated that overall, 216 Crore doses of vaccines will be manufactured in India between August and December 2021 for the country and its citizens.

While at least 55 Crore doses of Covaxin, India’s first indegenous COVID-19 vaccine, with an efficacy of 78% are expected, it is estimated that India will have at least 75 Crore doses of Covishield, locally-produced by Serum Institute of India before 2021 ends.

It must be noted that the government also plans to roll out 15.6 Crore doses of Sputnik V, Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine with an efficacy of 91.6% by December 2021.

Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm Biological E Limited (BE) has developed the BECOV2A vaccine, at least 30 Crore doses of which are expected by 2021. Additionally, 5 Crore doses of Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D are expected by the end of this year.

Novavax’s NVX-CoV2373, branded as Covovax has an efficacy of 89.3%. Serum Institute of India is expected to supply 20 Crore doses of Covovax by December, 2021.

According to the government, 6 Crore doses of Gennova, developed by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Limited will be available by December. Furthermore, 10 Crore doses of Intranasal, prepared by Bharat Biotech are expected to roll out by year end. It must be noted that Intranasal is a nasal vaccine, which can be administered through the nose and does not involve the use of a needle.

The update comes as India continues to vaccinate people above 18 years of age in its third COVID-19 vaccination phase. As of now, Covaxin and Covishield are being used for vaccination purposes.