India launches first 3-dose corona vaccine, find out how and who can get it without injection

- The company has kept the price of one dose at Rs 265 and apart from that each dose will be subject to GST of Rs 93.

New delhi date. Thursday, February 03, 2022

India has got one more weapon in the fight against Corona. Indigenous company Zydus Cadila has started supplying its Corona vaccine ZyCov-D. The vaccine will be given to people 12 years of age and older. However in India it will still be given only to people above 18 years of age. The special advantage of this vaccine is that it does not use needles. Meaning, this vaccine is a needle free vaccine. Also this vaccine has 3 doses which sets it apart from the rest of the vaccines. The central government approved Zykus-Cadilla vaccine Zykov-D in August last year.

3 doses of this vaccine will be given at intervals of 28-28 days. The second dose will be given 28 days after the first dose and the third dose 56 days later.

These 4 things make the vaccine special

1. A three-dose vaccine

The number of vaccines being given in the world so far is single dose or double dose. But Zykov-D is the first vaccine to be given in 3 doses.

2. Needle free vaccine

It does not use needles. It will be given by a jet injector. This will allow the vaccine to be injected into people's skin with high blood pressure. The device was invented in 1960. The WHO approved its use in 2013.

3. DNA based vaccine

Zykov-D is the world's first DNA-based vaccine. All vaccines so far use mRNA but this uses plasmid DNA.

4. Easy storage too

It is easier to preserve than any other vaccine. It can be stored for a long time at 2 to 8 સે C. Not only that, it can be kept at 25 degree Celsius for up to 4 months.

The central government had ordered 10 million doses of the vaccine and the company has started supplying it. The vaccine is currently being provided free of charge by the government.

The company has priced it at Rs 265 per dose and a GST of Rs 93 per dose. This means the total cost of one dose will be Rs 358.