Kathmandu, June 30. US National Institute of Health on Tuesday said that India’s anti-Covid-19 vaccine COVAXIN offers high protection against the deadly coronavirus variants, “Delta” and “Alpha”.

The statement released by the American institute reads, “Results of two studies of blood serum from people who received Covaxin suggest that the vaccine generates antibodies which effectively neutralize the Alpha and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2.”

“Unpublished interim results from phase 3 trials indicate that Covaxin is 78% efficient against symptomatic disease while its efficacy against severe Covid-19 is 100%. Further, it has shown 70% efficacy against asymptomatic infection with Sars-CoV-2, the Covid-19 causing virus,” the institute added.

Covaxin

Covaxin, India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, was developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV).

According to the ICMR, Covaxin is 78 percent effective towards the original strain of the COVID-19.

COVID Strains

The Delta(B.1.617.2) variant is becoming a dominant version in the world. Earlier this week, the Nepali health ministry reported that the strain has been detected in Nepal. Until mid-june, Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Kappa (B.1.617.1) were only found in Nepal. 

The alpha variant was first detected in the UK, while the Delta variant was first found in India.