Will the Covid-19 vaccine also be administered to babies? According to a Serum Institute of India official, it could happen soon.
“The Covid-19 vaccine for babies is likely to be ready by October this year and the first dose can be given in the same month of their birth,” reported Times of India quoting PC Nambiar, director of Group EXIM at Serum Institute of India.
He made the remarks at a function in Kochi city of Kerala.
Four more Covid-19 vaccines will be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and will be available for use by the end of the year, according to Nambiar.
The Novovax vaccine will be available for use by June.
The phase-2 clinical trial of the COVI-VAC vaccine, developed in association with Codagenix, has been completed, reports Times of India.
Nambiar also said that the production of the Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, will be increased to 200 million doses per month from April to meet the requirements of the central government.
Currently, they make 100 million doses every month.
However, the commercial selling of the vaccine can only be determined according to the instructions of the central government, to prevent people from selling the vaccine on the black market.
“The Kerala government has not approached us for direct purchase of vaccines. All dealings are directed by the central government and they control the distribution,” Nambiar said.
He furthermore explained by saying that the mutation will be a problem for those vaccines which are based on one particular coronavirus strain.
As Covishield is a malaria-based vaccine, similar to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, it is reportedly more effective for all mutated Covid-19 viruses.
However, Nambiar encouraged people to wear masks and follow sanitation guidelines even after the first dose is taken.
“The second dose will be taken only after 29 days and the antibody production will be complete only after 21 days of taking the second dose. So, until then, the vaccine will not be enough to protect the body from infection,” he said.
Nambiar also denied the allegations of the side effects of post-vaccination saying mild headache or fever is a normal reaction.
“The cured patients of Covid-19, will also have to undergo the vaccine as they have short-term immunity to the virus,” he added.
