Oxford and AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine trials in India are expected to be over by January, said Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla. Speaking to India Today TV, Poonawalla said that the vaccine trials in India will be completed by January, adding that the first dose has been given to most of the people who took part in the trial.

Sharing details of the final stage of trial for the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine in India, Poonawalla said, “We have already given the first dose to most of the patients in the trial, which is more than a 1,000 already. The total trial is for 1,600 patients in India. Then we will give the second dose and then and then analyse them for safety and efficacy.”

“That’s why I say January to be absolutely safe for India. Then again, we have to wait till all the data comes in from the UK to collate that together and then the Indian drug controller will have enough data to decide which way to go and when to license the product,” he added.

Adar Poonawalla also said that Oxford’s vaccine is producing a good immune response in addition to antibodies.

“The data is very good. If the UK goes into emergency licensure, it will be up to the government of India to then decide and take a call after analysing that data to determine whether we follow suit in about a month as well,” he said.

“Having said that, our own trial in India will be completed by January. So now it will be up to the UK health authorities and the Indian health authorities to take a decision on how safe and effective this vaccine is.”

Story Credit > www.ndtv.com