Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 nasal vaccine booster gets emergency use authorisation

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) to the booster dose of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 nasal vaccine—-iNCOVACC, which was India's first nasal vaccine developed against Covid-19, sources told CNBC-TV18

EUA was granted for restricted emergency use as the third dose for adults irrespective of having been administered Covaxin or Covishield vaccine doses, the sources added. The vaccination with  the primary dose  of iNCOVACC was aproved in September.

The nasal vaccine can be taken after six months of the second dose. The vaccine administration will begin post-alignment with the Cowin application.

Bharat Biotech had claimed that the "intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response." It is likely to block both infection and transmission of COVID-19. It is non-invasive and needle-free which makes it easy to administer as it does not require trained healthcare workers.