Grappling with an aggressive second wave of COVID-19, India has agreed to fast-track vaccine approvals that have already been authorized by drug regulators in the US, UK, European Union and Japan or those that have been cleared by the WHO. According to the Health Ministry statement, the vaccines will be eligible for use in India without having to conduct a local bridging trial.

Also read: Here’s how to download your COVID-19 vaccination certificate

The decision came as India overtook Brazil to become the country with second highest COVID cases after the US and amid a spike in COVID numbers with the country adding 184,372 new cases on Tuesday and 1,027 deaths. Several states – including Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Punjab — have reported vaccine shortages even as the Centre says that the country has adequate supplies.

The US FDA has okayed three vaccine— by Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. European Medicines Agency (EMA) has given four approvals — the three approved by the US and the one by Oxford-AstraZeneca. The UK has also approved three — those by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford-AstraZeneca. Japan has approved the one by Pfizer-BioNTech, while Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna have applied for clearance.

So, India is looking at three new vaccines (those by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson).

Here’s a look at the vaccines that are likely to be available in India following the Centre’s decision:

Pfizer-BioNTech

This is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine that has both synthetic, or chemically produced, components and naturally occurring substances such as proteins. The vaccine does not contain any live virus. It does not alter the DNA as mRNA is a transient carrier of information that does not integrate into human DNA. Said to have 95% efficacy

Also read: Pfizer-BioNTech says COVID-19 vaccine is effective for 6 months

Moderna

Moderna vaccines are also mRNA vaccines and only contain synthetically made coronavirus spike genes. The shots use genetic material to temporarily turn the body’s cells into tiny vaccine-making factories. Said to have 94% efficacy

Johnson & Johnson

Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) is the only single dose vaccine available at the moment. However, the vaccine is under a cloud in the US, where the regulator has temporarily paused its use following reports of blood clots among recipients. The vaccine uses human cells to make the SARS-2 spike protein, which then triggers an immune response.  Said to have 66% efficacy.

Already being administered in India

Covishield

Developed by the University of Oxford and British-Swedish company AstraZeneca and produced by the Serum Institute of India, the vaccine “is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees. Once a person gets the vaccine, the vector enters a cell and uses it to make spike proteins. As soon as the immune system recognizes the spike proteins, it starts producing antibodies and activates other immune processes in the body. Has efficacy of 70%

Covaxin

Manufactured by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology, it uses an inactivated virus. It is developed by chemically treating novel coronavirus samples to make them incapable of reproduction.

Also read: A comparison of Covishield and Covaxin: COVID-19 vaccines approved by India

Coming soon

Sputnik V

This vaccine from Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute works in a way similar to the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab which is being made in India as Covishield. Sputnik V gives around 92% protection against Covid-19, late stage trial results published in The Lancet reveal.