On June 4, Centre had cleared Corbevax for booster doses of those 18 and above, Biological E. The vaccine was allowed to be administered six months after a person has taken the first and second doses of either Covishield or Covaxin for restricted use in emergency situations.
New Delhi: Hyderabad-based Biological E’s Covid-19 vaccine Corbevax on Wednesday got Centre’s nod for booster dose to those who got Covishield and Covaxin. With the go ahead, the government has allowed mix and match of Covid-19 vaccines in India following which people can receive Corbevax as third shot after receiving Covishield or Covaxin as first and second dose. Before this, there was permission to take third dose of the same vaccine used for the first and second doses.
According to the reports, Union Health Secretary has written to the states that Corbevax could be given as a booster dose. Corbevax can be administered in adults six months or 26 weeks after they receive the second dose of either Covaxin or Covishield. The secretary has communicated that Corbevax vaccine will be made available through the Cowin platform from August 12.
On June 4, Centre had cleared Corbevax for booster doses of those 18 and above, Biological E. The vaccine was allowed to be administered six months after a person has taken the first and second doses of either Covishield or Covaxin for restricted use in emergency situations. The Centre’s decision had made Corbevax India’s first heterologous Covid booster.
Biological E’s managing director Mahima Datla had 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.”
In a statement, the company had said, “BE’s clinical trial data showed that CORBEVAX® booster dose provided significant enhancement in immune response and excellent safety profile required for an effective booster.”
The approval had come after a trial was conducted in 416 persons who were administered Corbevax or placebo (an agent with no therapeutic value) six months after having received two doses of either Covaxin or Covishield. The company, in its release, said, “The levels of neutralising antibodies – antibodies that specifically attack or block the Sars-CoV-2 virus – increased significantly in those who had taken Corbevax as compared to the placebo.”
Biological E had earlier reduced the price of Corbevax to Rs 250 from Rs 840 a dose for private vaccination centres.
