CDSCO Recommends Clinical Trial Of Combining Covaxin and Covishield Vaccine

A clinical trial of mixing of two COVID-19 vaccines which are Covishield and Covaxin has been recommended by Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) expert committee. This proposal now has to be confirmed by the Drugs Control General of India (DCGI) so that a detailed study can be done by the Christian Medical College, Vellore which will cover 300 healthy volunteers.  

According to this proposal, this will be a detailed study on the mixing of two doses between the Serum Institute of India’s Covidshield and that of Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19. The purpose of conducting this study is to examine the inoculation course of both vaccines. This means that whether an individual can be treated with two different vaccine shots or not. It will be the fourth phase of a vaccine trial in India.  

Other recommendations  

The expert committee also put forward granting assent to Hyderabad’s Bharat Biotech so that they could also conduct a study on the mixing of Covaxin and undertrial nasal vaccine BBV154. The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) enquired to change the word ‘interchangeability’ from their study and submit the correct examination for its approval.   

National Institute of Transforming India (NITI) Ayog Member, VK Paul revealed that if we mix both of the vaccines then, it might create a more powerful impact on an individual. But for this, a detailed study has to be done with a complete trial on a healthy person.   

Expert saying  

As per the Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr Randeep Gularia, there is a requirement of more facts and figures to examine the practicability of the combination of both Covishield and Covaxin. There would be more availability of vaccines in the future because of this study. If we throw light on some of the beginning studies, then they revealed this could be a course of action for the future. 

Disha Jain

BW Reporters The author is working as an intern with BW Businessworld