- NET Web Desk
On Tuesday June 29, the US National Institute of Health (NIH) said that Covaxin “effectively neutralizes” Alpha and Delta variants of COVID-19.
Covaxin is India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine. It is one of the three vaccines currently being administered across India.
It is developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV).
“Results from two studies of blood serum from people who had received Covaxin suggest that the vaccine generates antibodies that effectively neutralize the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.617 (Delta) variants of SARS-CoV-2, first identified in the United Kingdom and India, respectively,” the NIH said.
The Phase 2 trial of the vaccine indicates that it is safe and well-tolerated.
While, the Phase 3 trial indicate that it has 78% efficacy against the symptomatic disease.
Trial reports the vaccine to have 100% efficacy against severe COVID-19 including hospitalization.
70% efficacy has been reported against asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2.
According to NIH, the adjutant used in Covaxin, Alhydroxiquim-II, was discovered and tested in the laboratory by the biotech company ViroVax LLC of Lawrence, Kansas with support exclusively from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) Adjuvant Development Program.
Alpha and Delta variants of COVID-19 were first identified in United Kingdom (UK) and India respectively.
