Going Viral: The making of COVAXIN | Dr. Balram Bhargava | TEDxDFBEDU

()

COVID-19 Response in India

The first case of COVID-19 in India was detected on January 26, 2020.
The Indian government formed groups of secretaries and ministers to address the pandemic.
India faced challenges in obtaining testing kits and the virus but isolated the virus by March 2020, becoming the fifth country to do so.
India developed portable molecular testing kits and rapid antigen tests, achieving self-sufficiency in testing and exporting to other countries.
A nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25, 2020, to curb the virus's spread.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) became the center for fighting COVID-19 during the lockdown, operating 24/7 and collaborating with various ministries and organizations.
India evacuated pilgrims from Iran by setting up a testing laboratory in the Indian Embassy and quarantining them upon their return.

Before vaccines were developed, India made three major treatment advances:
- Using corticosteroids and steroids
- Using remdesivir
- Using convalescent plasma

India conducted a serosurvey in May-June 2020, revealing that only 7% of the population had been infected with COVID-19, indicating a high level of vulnerability.
India developed its indigenous vaccine, Covaxin, through a partnership between Bharat Biotech and the ICMR.
Pre-clinical studies on monkeys were conducted to assess Covaxin's safety and efficacy, with monkeys captured from the Telangana-Karnataka border due to the lockdown.
A pulmonologist was brought in to administer the virus to monkeys for testing the Covishield vaccine.
After 14 days, it was found that the virus had not grown, indicating the vaccine's effectiveness.
India established two monkey breeding facilities in Hyderabad and SAS Nagar to supply monkeys for testing and research.

India's journey from receiving penicillin from Canada in 1947 to becoming a vaccine superpower supplying vaccines to over 100 countries was highlighted.
The government played a crucial role in vaccine development, setting up a national task force and providing timely support.
India's Universal Immunization Program, with a vast database and infrastructure, enabled the rapid vaccination of a large population.
A mobile BSL3 laboratory and drone technology were developed for vaccine delivery in remote areas.
India demonstrated its capabilities by delivering vaccines to a remote island in Manipur using drones.
The country's infrastructure, including an Air Force Base at IIT C, facilitated the testing and utilization of drones for vaccine delivery.