Covaxin test on animals show sign of hope
The animal trials were conducted on 20 monkeys in India and three different vaccine candidates were tried on them
Hyderabad: Animal results of the two-dose, unactivated SARS-Cov 2 vaccine, Covaxin BBV 152, has shown protection and reduction in the replication of SARS-Cov 2 virus in nose, throat and lung tissues.
The animal trials were conducted on 20 monkeys in India and three different vaccine candidates were tried on them. The first dose of vaccine was given on Day 0 and the second dose was given on Day 14.
The results showed protective efficacy, increasing SARS-Cov 2-specific immunoglobulins which are antibodies, reducing replication of the virus.
Three groups of monkeys were given the vaccination and one group was not vaccinated. The three vaccinated groups did not develop pneumonia, while the non-vaccination group developed pneumonia.
According to the official note released by Bharat Biotech, there have not been any adverse side-effects noted in the animal trials. There was a robust immune response as there was protection from SARS Cov-2 virus even when exposed in high amounts.
The results of Bharat Biotech are encouraging but there are queries raised about the effects on the central nervous system which have not been detailed in the animals.