CDL-Kausauli releases India's first DNA vax for Covid

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 25

As many as 1,053 batches of six Covid vaccines comprising 1,521 million doses, including India’s first DNA vaccine ZyCoV-D, have been released for use after testing by the Central Drug Laboratory (CDL), Kausauli. The CDL is the national control lab for immunobiologicals in India.

Seven batches, comprising 2,37,530 doses of ZyCoV-D manufactured by Cadila Healthcare also figure in the list, said Dr Arun Bhardwaj, Director, CDL, Kasauli, here today.

Zycov-d okayed for 12-17 age group

• The ZyCov-D vaccine, to be administered intradermally using a PharmaJet needle free applicator, will ensure painless vaccine delivery.
• It is also the first vaccine to be approved for use in children in the 12-17 age group in India.

The ZyCov-D vaccine, which would be administered intradermally using a PharmaJet needle free applicator, would ensure painless vaccine delivery. It is also the first vaccine to be approved for use in children in the 12-17 years age group in India. People were keenly awaiting to get this jab administered to their children, he added.

“The ZyCov-D vaccine can be used on children up to 12 years of age and once its use is kick-started, another part of the population can be covered. The government will take a decision as to when to put the vaccine to use depending upon its availability in sufficient quantity,” said Dr Bhardwaj.

Besides, 549 batches of Covishield, 466 batches of Covaxin, seven batches of Janssen and 24 batches of Sputnik-V had also been released for use.

“The CDL is the first vaccine testing lab accredited to the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. It has a capacity of pre-release certification of nearly 7,000 batches every year. This capacity is likely to increase up to 8,000 batches this year, given the large scale testing of various Covid vaccines,” said Dr Bhardwaj.

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