COVAXIN to use Alhydroxiquim-II to boost Immune Response

The first COVID-19 vaccine, COVAXIN is currently in phase II trials in the country. The vaccine is to use Alhydroxiquim-II to boost the immune system.

Highlights

COVAXIN has sought the approval of Drugs Controller General of India to begin phase III trials. The vaccine was jointly developed by Indian Council of Medical Research and Bharat-Biotech.

Progress so far

The vaccine so far has been generating robust immune responses in primates upon exposure to high amounts of COVID-19 infections. The vaccine was tested in 12 hospitals on volunteers between ages 18 and 55 years. The trials were conducted in Hyderabad, Delhi, Kancheepuram, Rohtak, Patna, Goa and Bhubaneshwar.

What are future plans?

COVAXIN is to use Alhydroxiquim-II to boost immune response. This is being done to enhance the action of inducing antibody responses to vaccine antigens. The addition of Ahydroxuquim II will boost immune response.

What is Alhydroxiquim?

It is an adjuvant. Adjuvant is an immunological agent that is added to improve the response of the vaccine. Adding adjuvants will increase antibody production in human body and thus minimizes dosage of antigen required. Also, it helps in Antigen Sparing.

What is antigen Sparing?

Antigen is a foreign substance that induces the immune system of human body to produce antibodies. For instance, the proteins of COVID-19 is an antigen.

How does COVAXIN work?

The covid-19 vaccine called COVAXIN was derived from a strain of the virus isolated by the National Institute of virology in Pune.  At first inactivated vaccine is developed. Inactivated vaccine consists of Dead virus. When this is injected into the human body it does not harm the body. Rather it induces the immune system to create antibodies against virus. Thus the human body becomes immune without being infected.

Three Vaccines in India

There are three vaccines that are currently under trial in India. They are COVAXIN, ZyCoV-D vacines by Zydus Cadila and the Oxford University Vaccine.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2020