On 26 January 2023, India approved it’s first ever nasal vaccine for Covid-19. It was made by Bharat Biotech and is named iNCOVACC.
iNCOVACC was made to be administered in drops, it helps by building an immune response in the tissues that line the nasal cavity. It uses adenovirus to carry genetic code that teaches immunity and teaches the body how to fight the infection. The adenovirus are weak and harmless transporters, they cannot replicate or cause infection.
In November, the vaccine was approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in emergency situations among adults as a heterologous booster dose, which basically means that the vaccine could be taken by people who have received their two doses of Covishied or Covaxin. By December, it was approved for adults as a primary vaccine and as a subsequent booster shot.
The vaccine is supposed to be taken in two dosages 28 days apart. It will cost rs. 800 per dose by private hospitals and around rs. 325 per dose in government hospitals. The vaccine appointment can be booked by visiting the government owned website, CoWin.
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