Gemcovac-OM, an mRNA booster vaccine, is available for Rs 2,292/dose

26 Jun 2023 , 11:18 AM

Gemcovac-OM, India’s first mRNA booster vaccine targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, has been introduced by Gennova, a subsidiary of Emcure.

Gennova utilized domestic platform technology, supported by financial assistance from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), to develop the Covid booster vaccine. The cost per dose is Rs 2,292, and private hospitals will soon have access to the vaccine.

The Covid booster vaccine is administered intradermally using a needle-free injection device technique.

Recently, Gemcovac-OM received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Control General of India (DCGI). Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, introduced the vaccine during a ceremony on Saturday.

Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his pride in the DBT’s achievement of supporting technology-driven entrepreneurship through the development of this indigenous mRNA-platform technology. He emphasized the government’s focus on encouraging technology-driven innovation aligned with the vision of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and building a future-ready technological platform.

Gemcovac-OM offers several advantages, including needle-free administration, no requirement for cold storage, and ease of deployment even in remote areas.

Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the simplicity of last-mile deployment in India with this invention, stating that the vaccine’s unique characteristic of needle-free delivery makes it accessible. The existing supply chain infrastructure is sufficient for the deployment of this vaccine.

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