Zydus Healthcare’s COVID-19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D, is expected to be introduced in the national vaccination program by next week, people in the know stated.

A person having information on the development stated that the training of vaccinators who would administer the Zydus vaccine is nearly complete and the vaccine could be introduced in the national drive possibly by next week.

ZyCoV-D is the first DNA-based and needle-free COVID-19 vaccine, which was granted emergency use approval for people aged 12 years and above. However, the government will go ahead with its use in adults only at present. The vaccine will be first used in seven states with low first dose coverage before it is rolled out across the country. The seven states include Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal… (HT, December 17, 2021)