NTAGI to decide on including Corbevax as a booster dose in inoculation drive

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) is likely to review the data of Corbevax to consider allowing it to be administered to those fully vaccinated with Covishield or Covaxin, amid emergence of new sub lineage in the country. Corbevax has been cleared by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) as a booster.

"We will review the data of Corbevax in our next meeting slated to happen this month and evaluate if mix and match of vaccines can be allowed," a person the know told ET. India has been using the same vaccine used in the first two shots for the precaution, or third, dose as well since January, even though it approved Corbevax as a booster.

Hyderabad-based Biological E had earlier said that the booster dose of Corbevax "increased the neutralising antibody titers in the Covishield and Covaxin groups significantly when compared to placebo."

BE had conducted a multicentre phase-3 placebo controlled heterologous booster clinical trial in 416 subjects from 18 to 80 years of age who were previously vaccinated with two doses of either Covishield or Covaxin six months prior to the administration of Corbevax as a booster dose.

"In a subset of subjects evaluated for nAb (neutralising antibodies) against the Omicron variant, the Corbevax booster shot resulted in a significant increase in the nAb titers against the Omicron variant. After the booster dose of Corbevax, Omicron nAbs were observed in 91% and 75% of subjects who had received primary vaccination by Covishield and Covaxin, respectively," it had said in a statement.