ICMR Head's Letter Says Launch of a Covid-19 vaccine from Bharat Biotech 'Latest by August 15'

The Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) has set an ambitious August 15 launch date for the public use of the Coronavirus vaccine that is being produced in collaboration with Bharat Biotech based in Hyderabad.

'Having completed all clinical trials, it is expected to introduce the vaccine for public health use by 15 August 2020 at the latest. BBIL is working rapidly to achieve the goal, but the final outcome will depend on the co-operation of all clinical trial sites involved in this project, "said ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava, accessed by News18.

ICMR sources have verified the letter 's authenticity but state it was intended exclusively for internal communication. Bharat Biotech declined to comment about the message. The date set for the vaccine to begin is only a month and a half away. At the other hand, WHO scientists have predicted that a safe and effective vaccine could take at least 12-18 months to develop against SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. It historically takes several years, or even decades, to create vaccines for a new pathogen.

The ICMR has chosen 12 institutes of the country's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine for clinical trial, an official said. The indigenous COVID-19 vaccine (BBV152 COVID vaccine) developed by ICMR in collaboration with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL).

"The vaccine is derived from a strain of SARS-CoV-2 isolated by ICMR-National Virology Institute, Pune. ICMR and BBIL are working together for the pre-clinical as well as clinical development of this vaccine," said an official.