As a new Delta plus variant is identified, India’s exemption of bridging trials for imported COVID-19 vaccines could help speed up immunization efforts. The urgency to fully immunize individuals could also prompt a reduction in the interval between Serum/AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine doses

A recent study says a cohort of unvaccinated individuals aged under 16 years in Israel showed a nearly two-fold decrease in COVID-19 positivity for each 20 percentage points of individuals vaccinated overall. As Pfizer, Moderna and Bharat Biotech develop pediatric vaccines, should they consider if herd immunity might make such vaccines redundant?

Brazil is permitting imports of additional coronavirus vaccines, while in India, Serum Institute will manufacture Sputnik V, the government is unifying vaccine sourcing, and emergency use approval has been granted to Lilly's anti-COVID-19 antibodies. 

Unless Pfizer or Moderna beat the company to it, Zydus Cadila’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate could be India’s first such jab approved for children. With superior thermostability and proposed economical pricing, it will be one to watch, though a three-dose regimen could be a dampener. Meanwhile, saroglitazar sees slow progress.