Covaxin and Covishield are the leading vaccination doses in the immunization drive in India against COVID infection. However, several other vaccines remain unused after approval from the Union government.

A 200-crore vaccination mark has been reached in India with Covaxin SII’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin accounting for 80% (154 crores) and 16.75% (32 crores) jabs. The other three vaccines i.e., Sputnik-V, Corbevax, and Covovax account for 3.25% (6.35 crore) altogether.

As of now, India has granted emergency utilization authorization to 9 COVID-19 vaccination such as Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik-V, Corbevax, ZyCoV-D, Spikevax, Sputnik mild, and Ad 26. COV2.S out of which, only 5 indigenously produced vaccines are being used namely Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik-V, Corbevax, and Covovax.

ZyCoV-D, India’s first DNA vaccine injected in a 3-dosage form has been approved by DCGI on August 20, 2021. However, by the COWIN portal, not a single dosage of the vaccine has been administered outside of the scientific trial. Similarly, Moderna’s mRNA vaccine also received a EUA permit in January 2021. Though no single jabs were administered as the indigenous companies hesitated to acquire and stock up with a vaccine because of the availability of cheaper alternative vaccine choices.

The Pfizer-BioMTech vaccine was predominantly used in Europe and the US with our Union Government providing Fastrack clearance in June 2021. However, the US pharma company and our Central Government locked horns over the indemnity clause stating that any compensation brought by the demise or adverse effect caused by the jab should be paid by the US Federal Government, not by the corporation.

After several negotiations, the Government was unable to find a common ground, hence, the withdrawal of the vaccine from the Indian market.

As for Bharat Biotech’s nasal vaccine (BBV154), Gennova’s Gemcovac and Genique Life science’s vaccines are under clinical trial for administration in toddlers.