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Source: The post is based on the article “India’s first mRNA vaccine against Omicron approved” published in The Hindu on 21st June 2023
What is the News?
India’s first indigenous mRNA vaccine for the Omicron variant, GEMCOVAC-OM has been approved under emergency use guidelines by the Drug Controller General of India.
What is GEMCOVAC-OM?
GEMCOVAC-OM is India’s first indigenous mRNA vaccine for the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.
Developed by: Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd
Eligibility: Those who are 18 years of age and older can take the vaccine as a booster dose. This can be administered safely to individuals who have received two doses of either Covaxin or Covishield.
Features: It is a thermo-stable vaccine, which does not require ultra-cold chain infrastructure used for other approved mRNA-based vaccines, making it easy for deployment pan India.
– It is delivered intra-dermally using a needle-free injection device system.
– When administered intradermally in participants as a booster, it generated significantly higher immune responses.
