Bharat Biotech's Intranasal Covid Vaccine Priced At Rs 325 In Govt Hospitals, Rs 800 In Private

The world's first intranasal Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out in the fourth week of January at a price of Rs 325 in government hospitals and at Rs 800 in private hospitals.

Bharat Biotech's intranasal Covid vaccine iNCOVACC would be available from the fourth week of January at a price of Rs 325 in government hospitals and at Rs 800 in private hospitals. The vaccine will be listed on the CoWin app and has been approved to be rolled out as a booster dose for those above 18 years of age.

Earlier this month, Bharat Biotech received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for the use of heterologous booster doses of iNCOVACC. The approval from the national drug regulatory came after booster dose studies were conducted in 875 patients in 9 trial sites across India. A heterologous booster means a person can be administered a different vaccine as a third shot from the one that he/she received as the primary dose.

The iNCOVACC recipients demonstrated significant levels of Mucosal IgA antibody levels (measured in the saliva). Mucosal IgA antibodies in the upper respiratory tract may provide benefits in reducing infections and transmission, the release further said. 

"We have developed COVAXIN and iNCOVACC, two Covid vaccines from two different platforms, with two different delivery systems. The vector intranasal delivery platform gives us the capability for rapid product development, scale-up, easy and painless immunisation during public health emergencies and pandemics," said Bharat Biotech Executive Chairman, Dr Krishna Ella.

Nasal vaccines have several benefits when compared to injections. Besides protecting the entry points of the virus, nasal vaccines are easy to store, generates less wastage and it is also easy to distribute. 

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting with state health ministers on the Covid-19 situation and preparedness on Tuesday at 3 PM. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the status and preparedness of public health response to Covid-19, according to an ANI report.