ZyCoV-D on verge of being included in vaccine campaign, with Center ordering 10 million doses

Ahmedabad-based The Union government has placed an order with the medicine producer for 10 million doses of Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D, the country’s second indigenous vaccine against the coronavirus illness (Covid-19). Also, despite being the first vaccine to be cleared for an age group under 18, the needle-free jab, which received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on August 20, will initially be administered only to adults, despite being approved for inoculation of those aged 12 and above.

“The Centre has already put a purchase order with Zydus Cadila for the provision of 1 crore doses of ZyCoV-D at the earliest, with each dose costing 358 minus taxes,” PTI said, citing officials familiar of the proceedings.

Explaining why only adults will be vaccinated initially, it said that this was because of the company’s limited production capacity, adding that the firm has conveyed to the central government that it was in a position to deliver 10 million doses of ZyCoV-D, each month.

On September 30, Dr VK Paul, Niti Ayog’s member (health) said that the world’s first DNA-based vaccine would be used in the nationwide drive ‘very soon.’ Its regimen comprises three doses, which are to be administered on days 0, 28 and 56, respectively.

Till now, a total of six vaccines have received emergency use authorisation (EUA) from the drugs regulator, of which ZyCoV-D was the sixth. Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is the only other made-in-India jab cleared by the DCGI. Besides ZyCoV-D, it is also the only vaccine to have been recommended for kids, though it is yet to be approved by the regulator.