iNCOVACC : India’s First Nasal Vaccine
India released its first needle-free, Nasal COVID-19 vaccine. The two-drop India made iNCOVACC (BBV154) Nasal Vaccine, has been introduced on the Co-WIN platform. Bharat Biotech’s intranasal vaccine Incovacc is the World’s first intranasal vaccine for COVID developed by India.
The vaccine is developed in association with Bharat Biotech and Washington University St. Louis. This comes after Bharat Biotech received an approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for the use of the nasal booster dose, iNCOVACC.
How does iNCOVACC Nasal Vaccine work?
Bharat Biotech’s nasal vaccine is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilized spike protein. It is a needleless, intranasal Covid vaccine.
This vaccine given by nose can generate antibodies to fight the corona in the respiratory system, i.e., windpipe and lungs, which reduces the intensity of the infection and checks its spread.
iNCOVACC (BBV154) Nasal Vaccine – No Need for Needles
The nasal vaccines are preferable since they are easy to administer and give mucosal immunity that protects one from the early part of the infection.
With the vaccine being delivered through a nasal spray, it will do away with the need for needles and syringes, currently required for all the COVID-19 vaccines available.
iNCOVACC Nasal Vaccine is More Effective at preventing transmission
As the vaccine is given nasally, it triggers an immune response in the mucosal membrane. Being an intranasal vaccine, BBV154 may produce local antibodies in the upper respiratory tract which may provide the potential to reduce infection and transmission.
Since the nasal vaccine gives you local immunity (in the nose where the virus first enters) we can say that it is more likely to be effective at preventing transmission than the current generation of vaccines we have.
What does the iNCOVACC (BBV154) Nasal Vaccine do?
A nasal vaccine is delivered through the nose or mouth. It is expected to work on the mucosal lining, prompting an immune response at the entry points of the virus in the human body. It likely prevents the infection at the entry site itself, thereby also blocking its spread.
Nasal delivery of the iNCOVACC Vaccine creates a strong immune response throughout the body, especially in the nose and respiratory tract.
iNCOVACC Intranasal Vaccine Cost-effective for usage
The iNCOVACC Vaccine provides local immunity as well as convenience of administering with no need for syringes and trained manpower. Also, it will be practical and affordable. It has been designed to be cost-effective for usage in low- and middle-income countries.
This would mean not only lower costs but also easy distribution, no need for cold chains with very low temperatures and so on. This vaccine can also be stored at a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, making it easy for storage and distribution.
iNCOVACC Nasal Vaccine is Heterologous booster
The iNCOVACC Nasal Vaccine by Bharat Biotech is a heterologous booster. A heterologous booster includes administering a different vaccine than that of the primary vaccine.
Those who have taken Covishield and Covaxin can take the nasal vaccine as a heterologous booster dose. In heterologous boosting, a person administered a different vaccine from the one that was used for the primary dose series.
How can iNCOVACC be given as a Booster Dose
People above 18 years of age who have not received the booster dose can get this vaccine. This vaccine can be given as a booster dose by putting 4 drops into each nostril, thus totaling 8 drops (0.5 mL dose in total). iNCOVACC is a nasal vaccine to be administered twice at intervals of 4 weeks (28 days).
How much iNCOVACC will cost you
Bharat Biotech has finally revealed the prices of its much-awaited nasal spray vaccine in India. The vaccine, iNCOVACC (BBV154) is available on the CoWIN platform and slots can now be booked on the CoWin portal.
The consumers will be able to receive it for Rs 325 (excluding GST) per dose at government hospitals, and for Rs 800 (excluding GST) in private hospitals.
Bharat Biotech nasal vaccine launch date
This is the first nasal vaccine in India, which will be used by the government for providing anti-Covid booster. As per Bharat Biotech, the nasal anti-Covid vaccine will be rolled out during the 4th week of January.
This vaccine will be manufactured in the plants of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana across the country.
How does the nasal vaccine work?
Since the virus normally enters your body through the nose, the nasal vaccine causes your immune system to produce proteins in your blood and nose that aid in virus defense.
The goal of the nasal vaccine dose is to deliver a dose directly into the respiratory pathways. A doctor will use a small syringe with no needle to spray the vaccine into your nostrils.
Is The iNCOVACC Nasal Vaccine Practical for the Future?
This nasal vaccine can catapult mass vaccination during pandemics and endemics. The first intranasal vaccine in India can enable faster development with easy nasal delivery.
The vectored intranasal delivery platform gives us the capability for rapid product development, scale-up, easy and painless immunization during the pandemics and public health emergencies.
The product development and clinical trials of the nasal vaccine were funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Center (BIRAC) under the Mission COVID Suraksha Program.
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FAQ :
What is the iNCOVACC Nasal Vaccine?
The iNCOVACC Nasal Vaccine is the world’s first intranasal vaccine booster dose for Covid-19. The vaccine is developed in association with Bharat Biotech and Washington University St. Louis.
How can we get access to the nasal vaccine?
The needle-free vaccine will be available at private hospitals as of now and it is likely to be rolled out in the national Covid vaccination programme soon.
How iNCOVACC intranasal vaccine can be effective?
The iNCOVACC nasal vaccine gives you local immunity (in the nose where the virus first enters) so it can be effective at preventing transmission than the current generation of vaccines we have.
Who is eligible to have iNCOVACC booster dose?
iNCOVACC Vaccine will be available as a booster dose only for those above 18 years of age who have got 2 doses of either Covaxin or Covishield.
Is Nasal vaccine safe?
According to Bharat Biotech, the intranasal vaccine BBV154 or iNCOVACC has proven to be safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic in subjects undergoing phase III controlled clinical trials of the nasal vaccine and no side effects have been reported.