It would be a 90-95% effective vaccine if you just keep a two-to-three months’ gap between dose 1 and dose 2. He was speaking at the launch of the company’s pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, the first such indigenous vaccine, under the brand Pneumosil. A lower dosage gave a greater efficacy of 90% while two full doses a month apart gave a 62% efficacy. Researchers were unable to explain why the lower dosing regimen—a half dose followed by a full dose one month later—was more effective. Earlier this month, SII and Bharat Biotech had approached the panel with their proposals but were told to submit more data, while Pfizer asked for more time to make its presentation.

Source: Mint December 28, 2020 23:48 UTC