THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 3 July 2020 Promise and delivery: On India’s first COVID-19 vaccine(The Hindu)



Promise and delivery: On India’s first COVID-19 vaccine(The Hindu)



Mains Paper 2:Health 
Prelims level: COVAXIN
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context: 

  • India’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine (COVAXIN) developed by a Hyderabad-based company in collaboration with the ICMR is all set to be tested on humans. 
  • The permission from the Drugs Controller General of India to carry out phase-1 and phase-2 human clinical trials was based on the safety and efficacy results of studies on mice, rats and rabbits. 
  • The phase-1 trial of the candidate vaccine using inactivated (killed) novel coronavirus will begin this month to test its safety. 
  • The virus used for developing the vaccine was isolated by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology from samples collected in India. 
  • Meanwhile, a Pune-based company is all set to manufacture two-three million doses of the University of Oxford vaccine if the results of its phase-1 clinical trial are encouraging. 
  • Results will be expected in the first week of July.

Manufacturing:

  • Millions of doses more will be manufactured if the results of the combined phase-2/3 trial are reassuring. 
  • In addition, the two companies are collaborating with universities and a biotechnology company to develop three more vaccines. 
  • With the pandemic raging and no antivirals available to treat severe COVID-19 patients, a vaccine that is even partially effective and protects for about a year will be in demand. 
  • Thus, an indigenous vaccine will mean guaranteed availability for Indians, while a significant percentage of the Oxford vaccine manufactured in India will be earmarked for local consumption. 
  • This is one reason why many countries are earnestly attempting to develop a vaccine. 
  • According to WHO, 17 candidate vaccines are in various stages of a human clinical trial, while 132 are in a pre-clinical trial stage.

Bypassing:

  • On June 25, China’s CanSino Biologics COVID-19 vaccine, became the first off the block when it was approved for use by the military for a period of one year. 
  • The phase-1 and phase-2 trials found the vaccine to be safe with a “potential to protect” against the disease. 
  • It is unclear if the vaccination will be optional or mandatory. 
  • This is not the first time that countries have made vaccines under development available to the military even before the completion of the trial.
  • There is growing concern that speeding up vaccine development by bypassing certain crucial stages of the trial process may prove counterproductive. 
  • In a poll in the U.S., one-third have said they would not get immunised against COVID-19 even if a vaccine was widely available and affordable. 
  • While many expect science to find a quick-fix, experts envisage 12-18 months to get a vaccine commercialised, if at all. 
  • But that timeline is already seen as aggressive. 
  • If scientists develop a safe, efficacious vaccine soon, public trust in science could grow substantially but there would be serious consequences if it fails, particularly on the safety aspect. 
  • Regulatory agencies have a responsibility to ensure COVID-19 vaccines deliver what they promise. 

Conclusion:

Prelims Questions:

Q.1). With reference to the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, consider the following statements:

1. The Ordinance amends the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as applicable to Cooperative Banks. 
2. The amendments also apply to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) or co-operative societies. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Mains Questions:

Q.1). What is Vaccine? How the vaccine is developed? How regulators can ensure that vaccine can be safe, efficacious?