By Satyaki Paul
Recently, the Government of India has placed an order of 30 crore doses of Corbevax Vaccine manufactured by Biological-E, a Hyderabad-based company. This company is world-renowned and World Health Organization (WHO) recognized for the production of vaccines for diseases such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Measles, and Rubella infections. They are also considered as the “largest producer of Tetanus vaccine” in the world.
The Corbevax is currently undergoing Phase-III trial and has previously shown its efficacy during the Phase-I and Phase-II trials. it is a “recombinant protein sub-unit” (spike protein part of SARS-COV-2) vaccine. The spike protein is the one which allows viruses to enter the cells in the body. Nevertheless, when spike protein alone is provided, the body is anticipated to develop an immune response which fights the virus when it attempts to infect anindividual.Thus, when the real coronavirus tries to contaminate the human body, it will by now have an immune response prepared that will make it improbable for the individual to fall criticallysick.
The Corbevax vaccine was mutually developed by Baylor College of Medicine and the Department of Biotechnology of India.A significant reason for such quick procurement is the cause of enhancement of vaccine supplies in the Indian market. These vaccines can be easily produced by indigenous company Biological-E which can act as an alternative of global competitors such as Pfizer, Astra-Zeneca and even Moderna.
Mahima Dalta, the current Managing Director of Biological-E has observed that the cost of Corbevax will be less than Rs. 500 for two doses. Furthermore, according to a report in the Times of India, Corbevax could well begin as the most reasonably priced of vaccines in the Indian market once it gets alternative use for approval by DGCI.
The author works as a Ph.D. Research Scholar at the Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta, and the co-author of the book Anthropology For All (2021).