Representative photo | Courtesy: Reuters

Bharat Biotech, the maker of COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, has now sought the approval of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct Phase 3 trials of its COVID-19 intranasal vaccine, reports said on December 20.

The Hyderabad-based vaccine company has submitted the application and awaiting approval for Phase 3 trials of intranasal vaccine (BBV154).

“Intranasal vaccines have the potential to prevent against transmission. An intranasal vaccine as a booster dose will be easier to administer in mass vaccination campaigns,” a source was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.

Reports said that the Phase 2 trials were conducted with Covaxin and BBV154. “Using a combination of one intramuscular and the other nasal is an innovative approach of heterologous,” the IANS report said.

The intranasal vaccine can be given as booster dose to those who have already taken both the doses of intramuscular vaccines.

Health experts say the intranasal vaccine as booster dose will add a key weapon in India’s fight against COVID-19, especially when Omicron, the new variant, spreads fast in the country.

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, along with Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India, constitute the major share of India’s current COVID-19 vaccination drive, which was launched in January this year.

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