Zydus Cadila will now file an application to begin vaccine trials for children aged 3-12 years after getting emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine, said Managing Director Dr. Sharvil Patel on Saturday.
The three-shot vaccination, known as ZyCoV-D, is the world’s first plasmid DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine that is administered without the need of a needle.
ZyCoV-D is the second COVID-19 vaccine authorised in India.
‘Will submit an application for trials in the ages of 3-12 in 7-10 days.’
Zydus Cadila’s 2-shot vaccine is also anticipated soon
Dr. Patil noted that their experiment was conducted during the height of the second wave, in April, May, and June, to assess the efficiency of the vaccination against the Delta variation.
He claimed that a “sero-surveillance” revealed that the bulk of positive instances seen throughout the trial were Delta variations.
“So, when we came out with 66% efficacy, that is definitely against the Delta variant.”
India’s first intradermal vaccine, ZyCov-D
The vaccine produced by Zydus Cadila is being developed in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The second and third dosages must be administered 28 and 56 days after the first, respectively.
It is India’s first intra-dermal (between skin and muscles) vaccine, delivered with a needle-free injector.
Other COVID-19 vaccines that have been licenced in India are given intramuscularly.