Covid vaccine to take time
An appropriate vaccine for treatment of Covid 19 cannot be available for market use before the end 2020. It will take more time, say health experts. The trials of vaccine, named as Covaxin, have begun in the country. There are claims that developers working at rapid speed to bring out the final vaccine by August 15.
First Covid 19 vaccine launch
Coronavirus has infected more than 1.2 millions, leaving around 30,000 dead so far in the country. For the fatal disease, the indigenous vaccine is being developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in association with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL). Apart from this initiative, around a half of dozen Indian companies are working on a vaccine for the deadly virus.
Serum Institute of India partnered with Oxford University is the most prominent in the race. The government seems to be very quick at announcing an expected deadline for the Covid 19 vaccine. But many health experts have questioned on this hush to launch the vaccine. A curable final vaccine for good uses against deadly coronavirus can be available in India only after 2020, say experts.
Covid vaccine to take more time
The process of developing a vaccine for viral infections is lengthy and in coronavirus case it’s more complex says IMA Board of Hospitals Chairman Dr VK Monga. Because firstly these infections have shorter immunity and secondly these viruses have faster mutating. In Covid 19 case, researchers are clueless that which region is suffering from which mutation.
Dr Monga also said that a vaccine development is not a political decision. And there are many steps and procedures involved in it. He also explained the process, saying it begins with isolating the virus. Then making of antidote, followed by it’s testing on animals and finally on human volunteers. Then its efficiency, toxicity and longevity are tested to know how long the virus can sustain.
Due to viral infections having shorter immunity, we have to develop a vaccine with longer effects, he further explained. We must have to ensure that it has to be without side-effects. Also, as the virus mutates faster, we have to make sure, the vaccine can work on most of the mutants. That is because different regions in the country may have different mutants.
Government in too hurry
Work on coronavirus vaccine is in progress in many developed countries of the world to mitigate effects of the deadly virus by the end this year. However, showing so much hurry by the government for launching an indigenous vaccine seems to be more political, and not a medical decision.
In fact, from the start of vaccine initiative, government gave an impression to make available a vaccine for India and the world before any other country does. It seems that the main aim of the government is to be the world leader by developing a coronavirus vaccine as faster as possible. However, the requirement is to develop safest vaccine for people.
The questioning by scientists and health experts around the country is valid. Because of the coronavirus being very complex in nature and the changing of its mutants faster. Also its mutants are not same in all the parts of the country. In light of these facts, it’s hard to believe that a coronavirus vaccine delivered in a tight deadline of immense government pressure will be able to be securely cure such a complex disease.
India into community phase!
Health experts and scientists have said India is already into community transmission stage and asked the government to acknowledge this. Authorities are unable to track or trace contacts of Covid positive people, said Dr Monga. It is believed that 80 percent of people are asymptomatic.
With Covid 19 cases increasing in the country at a pace of around 50,000 per day, need for a vaccine is also growing everyday. Also, rest of the world needs a cure as coronavirus spread has not stopped in any part of the globe yet. Government is showing too much hurry for vaccine launch. And health experts’ concern is, people’s safety should not be at risk in India in such hush.
