India tested its coronavirus vaccine delivery system with a nationwide trial on Saturday as it prepares to launch an immunization campaign to curb the pandemic.
The trial ranged from the release of data on an online platform to track the delivery of vaccines, to cold storage tests and arrangements to transport the drug, the Health Ministry explained in a statement.
The massive exercise came a day after a government-selected committee of experts held a meeting to review two applications for potential vaccine candidates, including the front runner, Covishield, developed by the University of Oxford and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, based on in Britain, and another from the Indian manufacturer Bharat Biotech.
The vaccination campaign is expected to start in a few days, as soon as the regulator gives the green light to one of the candidates.
AstraZeneca signed a contract with the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, to produce 1 billion doses for developing countries, including India. On Wednesday, Great Britain was the first to approve treatment.
The vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech is based on an inactivated form of the coronavirus. It is done in collaboration with Indian government agencies. Initial clinical studies showed that the vaccine has no serious side effects and produces antibodies against COVID-19. The company said in November that it was starting late clinical trials.
The government plans to vaccinate 300 million people in the first phase of the plan, including health and frontline workers, police, military and people over 50 with previous illnesses.
The government is expected to opt for the drug from the Serum Institute of India at first.
The product produced in the Serum Institute of India does not require any freezer facilities to store it, as with others, but can be kept in refrigerators. This makes her a viable candidate for the country as well as other developing countries.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday discussed preparations for the vaccination campaign at a government hospital in the capital, New Delhi, and urged the population to ignore rumors about the vaccine. “We will not commit to a protocol until a vaccine is approved,” he told reporters.
Pooja Moriya, a health worker in the capital who will be one of the first to be vaccinated, said hospital staff had several meetings about the vaccine and how it works. “Our bosses have told us not to worry,” he added.
India has more than 10.3 million confirmed cases of coronavirus, the second country in the world most affected by the pandemic behind the United States. More than 149,000 people have died in the country from COVID-19.