New Delhi: The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved the Corbevax Covid-19 booster as heterologous Covid-19 booster dose for adults above the age of 18 years who got their primary Covid-19 vaccination (two doses) of Covishield or Covaxin administered six months before, reported news agency ANI.
In a statement issued by the Biological E. Limited, the Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical and vaccine company which manufactures corbevax, stated, “"The BE's Corbevax is the first such vaccine in India to be approved as a heterologous COVID-19 booster. Recently, BE has furnished its clinical trials data to the DCGI who after a detailed evaluation and deliberations with the Subject Experts Committee granted their approval for administering the Corbevax vaccine as a heterologous booster dose to people who have already taken two doses of either Covishield or Covaxin."
The statement further added, Biological E's clinical trial data showed that the Corbevax booster dose provided significant enhancement in immune response and the excellent safety profile required for an effective booster.
Mahima Datla, Managing Director, Biological E. Limited, said, "We are very happy with this approval, which will address the need for COVID-19 booster doses in India. We have crossed yet another milestone in our COVID-19 vaccination journey. This approval reflects once again the sustained world-class safety standards and high immunogenicity of Corbevax."
Slot for the Corbevax vaccination can be booked through the Co-WIN app or Co-WIN portal. So far, 51.7 million doses of Corbevax have been administered to children across the country, including 17.4 million who have completed the two-dose regimen. BE has supplied 100 million doses of Corbevax to the Government of India, the news agency reported.