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Mission COVID Suraksha : Launch Date, Objectives, and Key Points

Ananya Gupta October 04, 2023 05:59 3503 0

Mission COVID Suraksha, also known as the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission, is a vital initiative launched by the Government of India to expedite the research, development, and production of COVID-19 vaccines.

Mission COVID Suraksha : Launch Date, Objectives, and Key Points

Mission COVID Suraksha

The COVID-19 pandemic has left a profound impact on India, affecting individuals, families, and the nation’s economy at large. In response to the ongoing search for an effective vaccine, the Government of India launched an important initiative known as “Mission Covid Suraksha”. This mission was conceived with the primary goal of facilitating the development and deployment of much-needed COVID-19 vaccines.

Mission Covid Suraksha played a pivotal role in supporting various stages of the vaccine development process, from research and development to licensing and eventually, the marketing of six potential candidates for COVID-19 vaccines. This mission bears a resemblance to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, emphasizing self-reliance and self-sufficiency in the production and distribution of vaccines within the country.

The aim of Mission Covid Suraksha is to ensure an adequate and consistent supply of vaccines in India, contributing to the nation’s collective efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and safeguard the health of its citizens.

Mission COVID Suraksha
Mission Name Mission COVID Suraksha (Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission)
Objective Accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
Launch Date December 1, 2020
Approved Vaccines (As of Now) Covaxin, Sputnik V, Covishield and Pfizer

What is Mission COVID Suraksha?

The Government of India has allocated a substantial sum of Rs. 900 crores for the Phase I of the Mission COVID Suraksha, covering a duration of 12 months. This mission has a clear and ambitious objective: to expedite the development of approximately 5-6 vaccines designed to combat the COVID-19 virus. Notably, up to this point, a total of 10 vaccine candidates have received support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

The primary emphasis of this mission is on the meticulous preclinical and clinical development of these vaccines, with the goal of ensuring their swift deployment and effectively curtailing the further spread of the Novel coronavirus within the country. The mission adopts a comprehensive approach, spanning the entire spectrum of vaccine development, from preclinical research to clinical trials, manufacturing, and regulatory facilitation for eventual deployment.

To finance the vital Research and Development (R&D) efforts associated with Indian COVID-19 vaccines, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will provide the necessary grant. The execution and management of this mission will be overseen by a dedicated Mission Implementation Unit, situated at the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). This concerted effort seeks to harness all available resources and funding to accelerate the development and production of these crucial vaccines, addressing the urgent need to combat the COVID-19 pandemic effectively.

Why in News

The Government of India has announced a substantial stimulus package amounting to Rs. 900 crore to bolster the Mission COVID Suraksha. This mission, known as the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission, is aimed at accelerating the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates, a critical step in combating the pandemic.

Objectives of Mission COVID Suraksha

The Mission COVID Suraksha has outlined several key objectives, including:

Funding Support: Providing financial backing for candidate vaccines, encompassing their research, testing, manufacturing, licensing, and subsequent market distribution.

Strengthening Infrastructure: Establishing clinical trial sites, enhancing the capabilities of existing laboratories, and aiding in the implementation of robust internal and external quality management systems.

Standardized Protocols: Supporting the formulation of standardized and harmonized protocols for vaccine development, facilitating training initiatives, data management systems, and assisting with regulatory submissions.

Process Development: Offering support for process development, cell line development, and the manufacturing of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) batches for both animal toxicology studies and clinical trials.

Target Product Profile: Developing a well-defined Target Product Profile (TPP) to ensure that the vaccines produced through this mission possess desirable characteristics tailored to the needs and preferences of India.

Launch Date Of Mission Covid Suraksha

In a concerted effort to expedite the development of COVID-19 vaccines, the Government of India launched the transformative Mission Covid Suraksha. This mission marked a pivotal and favorable turning point in the trajectory of the pandemic response. During its initial Phase I, the mission received a grant of Rs. 900 Crores, aiming to significantly accelerate the pace of COVID-19 vaccine development.

The official launch date of Mission Covid Suraksha was set for December 1, 2020. Since its inception, this mission has been instrumental in driving forward critical vaccine research and development efforts, contributing to the nation’s comprehensive strategy to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Candidates for COVID-19 Vaccine

In the global endeavor to curb the spread of the Novel coronavirus, each vaccine candidate undergoes a rigorous clinical trial process to ensure its safety and efficacy for medicinal use. Under the COVID Suraksha mission, a total of 10 vaccine candidates were supported, although only a select few have progressed to the crucial human trial stage. This stage is pivotal in determining the vaccine’s suitability and its potential impact on patients’ health. Here are some of the COVID-19 vaccines that have successfully advanced to the human trial phase:

Sputnik V:

  • Named after the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik-I.
  • It is the first vaccine to have been approved and is ready for use.
  • Developed and registered in Russia.

Covaxin:

  • An Indian vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

ZyCoV-D:

  • Developed by the Indian pharmaceutical company Zydus.
  • Created in association with the National Biopharma Mission of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

BNT162b2:

  • Developed by Pfizer, an American pharmaceutical company.
  • Demonstrated high efficacy in preventing COVID-19.
  • Pfizer efficiently conducted trials and initiated market distribution shortly after development.

While these vaccines have shown promise, there are several other COVID-19 vaccine candidates that, unfortunately, have not achieved the same level of success. Some of them include:

  • AZD1222 by the University of Oxford.
  • Ad5-nCoV by the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology.
  • Ad26.COV2.S by Johnson & Johnson.
  • CoVLPs developed by the Government of Canada and Quebec.

These vaccine candidates, although not as successful as the others, have contributed valuable insights and efforts in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mission Covid Suraksha Key Points

The Government introduced the Mission Covid Suraksha was a crucial step in response to the escalating demand for a dependable COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic. This mission was strategically designed to address the urgent need for vaccine research, development, and production.

During its initial Phase I, the mission received substantial funding amounting to Rs. 900 Crore, which was instrumental in accelerating the progress of COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

A total of 10 vaccine candidates were under consideration for support and development through this mission. Among them, the following vaccines have been approved and are actively contributing to India’s vaccination efforts:

  • Covaxin: Developed indigenously in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
  • Sputnik V: Developed and registered in Russia.
  • Covishield: Manufactured in India in collaboration with AstraZeneca.
  • Pfizer: An American pharmaceutical company.

As of today, the available vaccines in India include Covaxin, Sputnik V, Covishield, and Corbevex.

The responsibility for the seamless implementation of this mission was entrusted to DIRAC’s Mission Implementation Unit, which played a pivotal role in executing the mission’s objectives effectively.

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Mission COVID Suraksha FAQs

Mission COVID Suraksha, also known as the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission, is an initiative by the Government of India to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

Mission COVID Suraksha was launched on December 1, 2020.

The primary objective is to expedite the research, development, and production of COVID-19 vaccines to address the urgent need during the pandemic.

In its Phase I, the mission received Rs. 900 Crore in funding.

Some of the approved vaccines include Covaxin, Sputnik V, Covishield, and Pfizer.
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