Covaxin effective against coronavirus strains found in India, UK: Bharat Biotech

Bharat Biotech, on Sunday, said its 'Covaxin' has been found to be effective against coronavirus strains found in India and the UK.

The Hyderabad-based vaccine major, citing a study in medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, pointed out that vaccination with Covaxin produced neutralising titres against all key emerging variants tested, including B.1.617 and B.1.1.7, first identified in India and the UK, respectively.

"Covaxin gets international recognition yet again, by scientific research data published demonstrating protection against the new variants. Yet another feather in its cap," Bharat Biotech co-founder and joint managing director Suchitra Ella said in a tweet, tagging PMO India, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, among others.

The study, conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Virology and Indian Council of Medical Research, found a modest reduction in neutralisation by a factor of 1.95 against B.1.617 variant compared to vaccine variant D614G, Bharat Biotech said. Despite this reduction, neutralising titre levels with B.1.617 remain above levels expected to be protective, it added.

On Saturday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had said vaccine production was being ramped up to cater to the increased demand. "Production of vaccines is being steadily ramped up to cater to increased demand while vaccines that are being produced now continue to be equitably apportioned and swiftly sent to States/Union Territories. We will have 51.6 crore vaccine doses by the end of July including the 18 crore doses already administered," added.