New Delhi: The Central government has placed an order for 1 crore doses of ZyCoV-D COVID-19 vaccine with Ahmedabad-based drug manufacturer Zydus Cadila.
ZyCoV-D, which is India’s second indigenous vaccine against the coronavirus (after Bharat Biotech-developed Covaxin), is likely to be included in India’s vaccination drive this month itself.
“The Centre has already placed a purchase order with Zydus Cadila for the supply of 1 crore doses of ZyCoV-D, with each dose costing Rs 358 excluding taxes, at the earliest,” PTI reported, quoting company officials.
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ZyCov-D, the first needle-less vaccine as well as India’s first jab for above 12 age-group, got emergency use approval from Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on August 20.
However, it will initially be administered only to adults because of Zydus Cadilla’s limited production capacity of 1 crore doses every month.
The world’s first DNA-based vaccine regimen comprises three doses, which are to be administered on days 0, 28 and 56.
ZyCoV-D is the only vaccine to have been recommended for kids, though it is yet to be approved by DCGI.
