shot-button
Maharashtra Elections 2024 Maharashtra Elections 2024
Home > News > India News > Article > Indian vaccines dont need temperature as low as Pfizers AIIMS Dir

Indian vaccines don't need temperature as low as Pfizer's: AIIMS Dir

Updated on: 11 November,2020 06:29 PM IST  |  Mumbai
IANS |

Guleria said that the Indian Covid-19 vaccine has a huge advantage over the Pfizer vaccine, which is required to be kept at a much lower temperature, and hence, cold storage for other vaccines can be used for the Indian vaccine too

Indian vaccines don't need temperature as low as Pfizer's: AIIMS Dir

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria

Indian vaccines offer lot of hope, due to various factors including a good safety signal, display of immunogenicity, and capability of using the current storage infrastructure, said AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria in an exclusive interview with IANS.


Recently, drug company Pfizer announced that its vaccine candidate for Covid-19 is more than 90 per cent effective at preventing infection. This was welcomed as a major step in the fight against the virus, which has unleashed havoc on the global economy.


Guleria added that the Indian Covid-19 vaccine has a huge advantage over the Pfizer vaccine, which is required to be kept at a much lower temperature, and hence, cold storage for other vaccines can be used for the Indian vaccine too.


We have not seen any major issue with Indian vaccines at the trials stage, are you satisfied with progress made so far?

Indian vaccines have a lot of hope and there are two or three reasons for that, one is that their safety signal is very good and immunogenicity is also being shown, and one is now looking at the results of Phase-3 trials, which will take some time, but I am hopeful we will have good amount of data because multi-centric studies is being done. We quickly will be able to generate some interim analysis to show in Phase-3 trials this vaccine can give good efficacy.

Drug company Pfizer announced that its vaccine candidate for Covid-19 is more than 90 per cent effective at preventing infection. Are Indian vaccines on a better footing than Pfizer?

What Pfizer has got is something very encouraging for other vaccines researchers also, because that shows there is a potential of good immunity by the vaccines. Therefore, other vaccines should also do well. Therefore, it is a big news for all vaccine developers. We can hope for a 90 per cent efficacy.

The advantage for the Indian vaccine is that it is required to be kept at a much lower temperature. The Pfizer vaccine currently have to be kept at minus 70 degrees Celsius, therefore it will be very difficult to vaccinate people in lower- and middle-income countries. Because having a vaccine stored and transported at minus 70 degree Celsius not only needs huge investment but also needs huge planning, because most vaccines are not kept at that low temperatures.

The Indian vaccines are going to be kept at a temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius and this is available for most vaccines. As most vaccines a have cold storage facility, these can be used for this vaccine also. Therefore, the investment is not much. If we were to use a vaccine which require storage at minus 70 degrees Celsius, then one would require whole new cold chain development. I do not see that happening in lot of countries.

Is 90 per cent efficacy is being aimed at by Indian companies developing vaccine against Covid-19?

We would like to have as much efficacy as one can. The WHO says if any vaccine has more than 50 per cent efficacy, it is good enough. We would definitely like to have an efficacy of 80-90 per cent. So, let us hope that is what we are able to achieve.

Keep scrolling to read more news

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK