Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya: India will be first to make DNA-based jab

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday told Rajya Sabha that India will be the first country to develop a DNA-based Covid-19 vaccine even as other manufactures are steadily ramping up production.

“It is a matter of great pride for us that our scientists will be the first to develop a DNA vaccine,” the minister said.

Mandaviya was referring to drug maker Zydus Cadila, which has applied for emergency use authorisation of its DNA vaccine.

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Mandaviya said while Serum Institute of India has begun providing 11-12 crore doses of Covishied vaccine every month, Biological E is conducting third-phase trial of its vaccine, which is expected to come in the market by September-October with 7.5 crore doses.