The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) needs adequate scientific data to make a recommendation on mixing of COVID-19 vaccines, the government said yesterday.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has granted permission to the Christian Medical College, Vellore, to conduct phase-IV study with Covishield and Covaxin to compare immunogenicity of mixed vaccine regimen and to Bharat Biotech for phase-II clinical trial to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of Covaxin with BBV154 (adenoviral intra-nasal COVID-19 vaccine), Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health, said.
“Adequate scientific data is required for NTAGI to make a recommendation on mixing of COVID-19 vaccines, at present, this information is not available,” Pawar said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
She was responding to question on whether the government is considering mixing of COVID-19 vaccines based on heterologous strategies conducted earlier for other diseases, to induce combined antibody and cell-mediated immune response resulting in stronger and long-lasting immunity, and, if any study has been undertaken in this regard.