QazCovid-in, commercially known as QazVac,[1][2] is a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems in Kazakhstan.[3][4] QazCoVac-P is a second COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Kazakh Biosafety Research Institute and in clinical trials.[5]
Manufacturing
The vaccine can be stored at standard refrigeration temperatures (2 °C-8 °C) and is a two-dose régime with the doses administered twenty-one days apart.[6] The vaccine was first manufactured by Kazakhstan's Research Institute of Biological Safety Problems. Production capacity has been capped at 50,000 doses per month.[citation needed]
Beginning in June 2021, the vaccine is slated[7] to be packaged in large bulk to be bottled in Turkey by a major Turkish company.[8] This will allow for a production capacity of 500,000-600,000 doses per month.[9] The contract is still being negotiated,[10] despite earlier claims suggesting that the deal had already been finalized.[11][12]
In October 2021, it was announced that the vaccine would be supplied to Afghanistan and other countries in 2022.[13]
History
Clinical trials
In September 2020, QazVac started in Phase I/II clinical trials.[14]
In December 2020, QazVac is currently in Phase III clinical trials, which is expected to be fully completed by 9 July 2021.[2][8] It is unclear when the first preliminary results will be published.[15][12]
The administration of the vaccine for the general population began at the end of April 2021.[16] The Research Institute Kunsulu Zakarya's Director General's justification is that the trial is almost 50% completed and "people who have received [the] vaccine feel well; there have been no side-effects and the effectiveness of the vaccine is high".[8]
In September 2021, a study was published to eClinicalMedicine, published by The Lancet. The study’s findings were that the “QazCovid-in® vaccine was safe and well-tolerated and induced predominantly mild adverse events; no serious or severe adverse events were recorded in both trials.” [17]
The first batch of 50,000 doses was delivered on 26 April 2021, and vaccination began shortly after.[citation needed] In June 2021, the capacity will increase to 100,000 doses per month, regardless of the contract for bottling in Turkey.[18]
^It's unclear at which level of preparation the vaccine will be sent to Turkey.
^ abcAkulova O, Gani T (9 April 2021). "QazVac готова и уже на подходе" [QazVac is ready and on the way]. Время [Time] (in Russian). Retrieved 11 April 2021.