All your Incovacc nasal vaccine FAQs from price to dosage, answered by Bharat Biotech
Incovacc, the nasal vaccine by Bharat Biotech, is priced at Rs 800 for private markets and at Rs 325 for governments. Photo: DailyO
Bharat Biotech has fixed the price of its nasal vaccine, Incovacc, at Rs 800 for private markets and Rs 325 for governments. The vaccine is being rolled out as a booster dose, in the fourth week of January 2023.
Here are a few pertinent questions about Incovacc, answered by Bharat Biotech.
- What is Incovacc? Incovacc, developed by Bharat Biotech, is the world's first intranasal vaccine for Covid to receive approval for the primary 2-dose schedule, and as a heterologous booster dose.
- Is Incovacc available on CoWin? Yes, Incovacc is now available on CoWin.
- What is the price of a dose of Incovacc? Inncovac is priced at Rs 800 for private markets, and at Rs 325 for governments.
- When will Incovacc be available? Inncovac will be rolled out in the fourth week of January 2023.
- Who is eligible for a dose of Incovacc? Incovacc is being rolled out as booster dose for those above 18 years of age.
- What is the price of Incovacc for governments? Incovacc is to be priced at Rs 325 / dose for large volume procurement by state governments and Government of India.
- Where were the trials held? The Phase III trials (as a 2-dose regimen) were conducted for safety, immunogenicity in ~3,100 subjects, in 14 trial sites across India.
iNCOVACC, World's first intranasal vaccine to receive both primary series and Heterologous booster approval. #bharatbiotech #incovacc #intranasalvaccine #vaccine #COVID19 #VaccinesWork #VaccineDevelopment #Booster #COVID #pandemic #firstintranasalvaccine pic.twitter.com/jyTebvwiT6
— BharatBiotech (@BharatBiotech) November 28, 2022
- What about the heterologous booster dose studies? Heterologous booster dose studies were conducted for safety and immunogenicity in ~875 subjects, with BBV154 intranasal vaccine administered in those previously completing a regimen of the commonly administered Covid vaccines. The trials were conducted in 9 trial sites across India.
- What did the trials show? Incovacc recipients demonstrated significant levels of Mucosal IgA antibody levels (measured in the saliva). Mucosal IgA antibodies in the upper respiratory tract may provide benefit in reducing infections and transmission.
- What are the storage requirements for Incovacc? Incovacc is stable at 2-8°C for easy storage and distribution.
- Bharat Biotech has established large manufacturing capabilities at multiple sites across India, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana, with operations pan India.
Now, if you want to know more about Incovacc, the nasal vaccine that will soon be available in India, here's what Bharat Biotech has to say about it:
- Incovacc is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion-stabilised SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
- This vaccine candidate was evaluated in phases I, II and III clinical trials with successful results.
- Incovacc has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops. The nasal delivery system has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low- and middle-income countries.
Dr Krishna Ella, executive chairman, Bharat Biotech, said in a press statement today:
"We have achieved the goals we set for ourselves during this pandemic. We have developed Covaxin and Incovacc, two Covid vaccines from two different platforms, with two different delivery systems. The vectored intranasal delivery platform gives us the capability for rapid product development, scale-up, easy and painless immunisation during public health emergencies and pandemics. We thank the Ministry of Health, CDSCO, Dept of Biotechnology, Govt of India, Technology Development Board, and Washington University, St Louis, for their support and guidance."
Incovacc over Covaxin or Covishield? The one big advantage that Incovacc has over other Covid vaccines in the market as of now, is that it is a nasal vaccine. So, it is needleless, and hence, painless.