Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has developed a H1N1 vaccine -- not a painful syringe shot but a harmless nasal spray -- which can be used by anybody above the age of three except pregnant women.
To cost around Rs 150, SII will apply to the drug controller general for licensure of its product next week.
Scientists say, it is safe and effective with side-effects being runny nose and a bout of sneezing. Interestingly, the breakthrough comes exactly a year after India reported its first case of swine flu (May 15, 2009).
According to sources, the vaccine works by generating protective antibodies in the nose and pharynx and also produces antibody in blood , within a week of getting vaccinated.
This will be a one-time vaccine.
"Usually a vaccine test takes years. But since this was a pandemic virus and we needed a vaccine urgently, the Indian companies were given permission for Phase 1 to Phase 111 trials at one go to cut down on time," DCGI Dr Surinder Singh had earlier said.
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