Zydus Cadila plans to deliver 1 crore COVID-19 vaccines by October

Zydus Cadila, whose DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine received approval for emergency use from the Drug Controller General of India on Friday, is planning to produce one crore doses per month by October and 3-5 crore doses by December-January. The vaccine named ZyCoV-D is the world’s first DNA vaccine against coronavirus. It is applicable to be administered to all adults and children aged 12 and above.

Zydus further said that the company will not be able to meet the government’s requirement of 5 crore doses in August adding that it is in talks with some third-party companies about a production alliance, and technology transfer.

The pricing of the vaccine, which will be administered in three doses, will be decided in the next couple of weeks.

About the vaccine roll-out, Zydus Group Managing Director Sharvil Patel said that it is looking to supply its COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D by the middle to end of September.

Developed by the Ahmadabad-based pharmaceutical giant, Zydus Cadila, ZyCoV-D became the first COVID vaccine to be administered to those in the age group of 12-18 years in the country. Other vaccines Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V are currently being given to only those above the age of 18.

ZyCoV-D works on the DNA mechanism. When injected, it produces the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and elicits an immune response, which plays a vital role in protection from the disease as well as viral clearance.

  Also Read: Children in India likely to to be vaccinated for COVID by September: ICMR

The “plug-and-play” technology on which the plasmid DNA platform is based can be easily adapted to deal with mutations in the virus, such as those already occurring, Zydus press release said.

In July, Zydus said that its vaccine is effective against the new coronavirus mutants, especially the highly transmissible Delta variant, which was believed to be behind the deadly wave of the coronavirus in India and Europe. The shot is administered using a needle-free applicator as opposed to traditional syringes, hence is a sure shot alternative for those scared of injections.