Covaxin Effective Against Double Mutant Strain Found In India: ICMR

New Delhi: Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin neutralises multiple variants of coronavirus and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well, an Indian Council For Medical Research (ICMR) study said on Wednesday.

“#COVAXIN neutralises against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well.,” said ICMR in a tweet.

ICMR study shows #COVAXIN neutralises against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well. @MoHFW_INDIA @DeptHealthRes #IndiaFightsCOVID19 #LargestVaccineDrive pic.twitter.com/syv5T8eHuR

— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) April 21, 2021

The new variant, called B.1.617, was initially detected in India with two mutations — the E48 and L452R. It was first reported late last year by a scientist in India and more details were presented before the WHO on Monday, according to Van Kerkhove.

The new variant, which has a so-called double mutation, is thought to be fueling India’s deadlier new wave of infections that has made it the world’s second worst-hit country, surpassing Brazil, and has already begun to overwhelm its hospitals and crematoriums, Times of India (TOI) reported.