An expert panel from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has reportedly recommended the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to grant emergency use authorisation (EUA) to Zydus Cadila’s three-dose COVID-19 vaccine named ZyCoV-D.

The ZyCoV-D, if approved, would be the first DNA (deoxribo nucleic acid) vaccine in the world to be used against Sars-CoV-2 virus. It is reported that the recommendations have been sent to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for final approval.

Also Read: Should fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors or not? Here’s what top American public health agency has to say

The Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadiula had applied for EUA with the DCGI on July 1.

If approved, the DNA vaccine would be the sixth COVID19 vaccine to be approved in India. The five vaccines that are presently in use in the country are Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, Janssen, and Moderna.

Also Read: Sputnik V COVID19 vaccine’s production in India to go ‘fully on stream’ in September: RDIF

Efficacy of ZyCoV-D

The Ahmedabad-based pharma company claims that the DNA vaccine is 66.6 per cent effective against symptomatic COVID19 infection and 100 per cent effective for moderate COVID19. It also reported that the vaccine is safe for children between 12 and 18 years of age.

Also Read: Third wave of COVID19 to hit India this month, peak in October: Report

So far, the vaccines used for protection against COVID19 are either sythesised using RNA or a viral vector (which carries a part of the weakened COVID19 virus inside the body to generate an immune response).

Meanwhile, India reported 36,571 fresh COVID19 cases in the last 24 hours while the active caseload stood at 363,605.

Among all the states, Kerala reported the highest cases at 21,116, followed by Maharashtra with 5,225 cases, Tamil Nadu with 1,702 cases, Andhra Pradesh with 1,501 cases and Karnataka with 1,432 cases.