Pune-based vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India (SII) has developed intra-nasal vaccine named 'Nasovac' for preventing H1N1 infections. The company has invested Rs 40 crore for the development and has a target to sell 20 million dosages this year.
This single dose vaccine, fitted at the top of a syringe, is to be sniffed once in each nostril. According to SII, the safety and efficacy of the vaccine was established through clinical trials conducted in India for the vaccine.
Adar Poonawalla, Executive Director, Serum Institute of India Ltd said, "The public’s fear at the height of the pandemic last year was a challenge for India’s healthcare sector. Right from the time we started work on the vaccine, we were clear that apart from developing indigenous capability for tackling pandemics, we wanted to provide a painless prevention option for the masses. We now have capabilities, in collaboration with global healthcare agencies, to respond with affordable preventive vaccines for pandemic healthcare emergencies anywhere around the world."
With the outbreak of H1N1 infections in 2009, Serum Institute in consultation with World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, Government of India started work on the H1N1 vaccine. The company is already working on an influenza vaccine under WHO guidance.
Nasovac is priced at Rs 160 and will be available in the market in the next couple of days. The vaccine is approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for usage by any individual above three years of age, except pregnant women. Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila has aslo recently developed a single shot intra-muscular vaccine 'Vaxiflu-S' which costs around Rs 350.
In india, 30 states and Union territories have reported swine flu cases. Over 1540 people have died due to swine flu in the country. Maharashtra has seen 474 deaths till June 2010. The first swine flu case was reported on May 13, 2009 in Pune and the city has alone witnessed 243 deaths.