Covaxin effective against double mutant strain of coronavirus: ICMR study

April 21: Indigenously-developed Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine COVAXIN neutralises multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2. Covaxin also effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well. This was revealed in a study by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said today.

“ICMR study shows COVAXIN neutralises against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well,” ICMR said in a tweet. ICMR-National Institute of Virology has successfully isolated and cultured multiple variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 virus: B.1.1.7 (the UK variant), B.1.1.28 (Brazil variant ) and B.1.351 (South Africa variant).

Dr Samiran Panda, chief of epidemiology and communicable diseases division of ICMR, said it is good news and hoped that there will be less anxiety among people in the second wave with this new information about the vaccine.

ICMR study shows #COVAXIN neutralises against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 and effectively neutralises the double mutant strain as well. @MoHFW_INDIA @DeptHealthRes #IndiaFightsCOVID19 #LargestVaccineDrive pic.twitter.com/syv5T8eHuR

— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) April 21, 2021