Serum Institute’s Covishield Vaccine Produces Antibodies Against B.1.617.1 Variant Of Coronavirus: ICMR Study

The Covishield Covid-19 vaccine, which is being manufactured in India by Serum Institute of India, is effective against the B.1.617.1 strain of the Coronavirus, a study has found.

The B.1.617.1 variant of the Covid-19 virus is considered to be responsible for surge of the cases in India.

A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has concluded that "Covishield vaccine-induced antibodies are likely to be protective to limit the severity and mortality of the disease in vaccinated individuals”.

Till date, over 170 million doses of vaccine have been administered to Indian citizens with two approved vaccines- Covishield (Astrazeneca-Oxford) and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

Earlier, the ICMR in a study has said that the indigenous Covid-19 vaccine was effective against the various strains of the Covid-19 virus including B.1.617.1, B.1.1.7, B.1.1.28.2 and variants.