14 COVID vaccine candidates to enter clinical trial in next 4-5 months; Know more-

New Delhi, May 25: "At least four out of the 14 coronavirus vaccines candidates may enter the clinical trial in the next three-five month," Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said while in the interaction section with BJP leader G V L Narasimha Rao.

 

During the interaction when Rao asked the Health Minister about the status of the development of the vaccines in the country Harsh Vardhan said, "The whole world is trying to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. There are over 100 candidate vaccines that are at different levels of development."

 

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) is coordinating the efforts. India is also actively contributing to it. There are 14 candidates in India also which are at different levels. As far as I know, four of our fourteen vaccines will soon be in the clinical trial stage, within 4 to 5 months. All the 14 are right now at the pre-clinical trial stage," he added.

 

He also said the Department of Biotechnology of the Ministry of Science and Technology is helping the academic world and industry in all manners such as giving regulatory clearances, grants, or financial support, among other things.

 

However, Minister cautioned that it is too early to expect any vaccine against the disease because there is a long due procedure involved in its development. "It's very difficult to predict when a vaccine will come, but as a doctor, I can say that the process it involves, one year would be a modest estimate. And social distancing and wearing masks is the only way to protect oneself until the vaccine is not developed.

 

Meanwhile, the Health Minister took charge as the Chairman of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board on May 22 after one hundred and ninety-four nations signed the proposal to appoint India's nominee as the Chairman.