Covid 19: First intranasal vaccine as booster dose now available in India; can be taken at private centres

New Delhi, December 23:  iNCOVACC (BBV154), world’s first intranasal Covid-19 vaccine, will be available on COWIN platform from December 23. It has been manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.

Amid a surge in Covid cases in China and other countries, the Union Government has approved its introduction in the vaccination plan.

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Earlier on November 28, iNCOVACC (BBV154) had received nod from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under Restricted Use in Emergency Situation for ages 18 and above in India for heterologous booster doses on November 28. The booster shot will be available at private centres.

World's first nasal vaccine 

iNCOVACC is a recombinant replication deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilised SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

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"iNCOVACC has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops. The nasal delivery system has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low- and middle-income countries. It was developed in partnership with Washington University, St Louis, which had designed and developed the recombinant adenoviral vectored construct and evaluated in preclinical studies for efficacy," the company said in a statement.