In view of COVID-19 and the ongoing vaccination drive, on November 11, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, Dr Krishna Ella stated that people will need a COVID-19 booster dose of the vaccine if SARS-CoV-2 mutated. In addition, he validated that vaccine manufacturers are working on strategies that can be contained.
On India surpassing the 100-crore vaccination milestone, the Bharat Biotech CEO said, “India has done an amazing job. I think that is significant and we appreciate the commitment of the government and healthcare workers. Honestly, I salute the citizens of this country and who believe in Indian science and are coming forward to take the vaccine.”
On the export of Covaxin, Dr Ella lauded the central government saying, “Right from the beginning of the pandemic, the Indian government has helped other countries. We are already supplying COVID-19 vaccines by the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ programme and I think the government has a sincere commitment to helping other parts of the world.”
Speaking about the company’s nasal vaccine candidate, the Bharat Biotech chairman and MD said, “We are the first company in the world to have a nasal vaccine which has gone into phase two completion. Many companies are trying and it took some time for us to understand the immunology of that. So now, we understood the immunology of the nasal. We are retesting immunology now in a different direction.”
Dr Ella also said that wearing a mask will prove to be a weapon against the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
“All injectable vaccines will only prevent the hospitalisation and not the disease. The infection will happen and that is why we are recommending having a mask. Mask is mandatory because even if you’re vaccinated, you will still get an infection. If everyone wears a mask, naturally the transmission will stop. We’ve been trying hard and now we have figured that out,” he said.
