Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister launches the GEMCOVAC® -OM, an Omicron-specific mRNA-based Booster vaccine” published in PIB on 23rd June 2023
What is the News?
The Union Minister of Science and Technology has launched GEMCOVAC® -OM, an Omicron-specific mRNA-based Booster vaccine.
What is GEMCOVAC-OM?
GEMCOVAC-OM is an indigenously developed mRNA vaccine against the dominant Omicron variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
It is India’s first mRNA vaccine.
Developed by: Pune based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals with funding support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
Features: It is a thermostable vaccine and does not require ultra-cold chain infrastructure used for other approved mRNA-based vaccines.
– It is delivered intra-dermally using a needle-free injection device system.
– It will for now only be available as a booster or “precaution dose”.
