Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health & FW, Govt of India tweeted regarding Zycov-D, “ After evaluation of interim Phase III clinical trial results in consultation with Subject Expert Committee, CDSCO has approved DNA COVID-19 vaccine (ZyCoV-D) of M/s Cadila Healthcare for restricted use in an emergency situation in India for 12 years and above. The vaccine has an efficacy of 66.6% and it is to be stored at 2°C to 8°C. The vaccine is needle-free to be administered intradermally in three doses at day 0, 28 and 56.”

In response to a tweet by CDSCO India Info, the Prime Minister said;

“India is fighting COVID-19 with full vigour. The approval for the world’s first DNA based ‘ZyCov-D’ vaccine of @ZydusUniverse is a testimony to the innovative zeal of India’s scientists. A momentous feat indeed.”

The vaccine is developed in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology under the ‘Mission COVID Suraksha’ programme. Once delivered, the three-dose vaccine creates the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s spike protein and stimulates an immune response.

 After Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, and Moderna, this is the fifth vaccination to be licenced for use in India.