COVID-19 vaccine to be tested on 30 monkeys in NIV Pune, Forest Department gives its nod – Times Now

COVID-19 vaccine to be tested on 30 monkeys in NIV Pune, Forest Department gives its nod  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: As the race towards developing and testing vaccines against the novel coronavirus infection intensifies, with India playing a major role in treatment and vaccine trials, ICMR'S National Institute of Virology, Pune, has been granted the use of 30 monkeys for vaccine trials, TOI reported.

30 monkeys of the female gender, in the age of three to four years, will be given to the institute to test the COVID-19 vaccine. The monkeys will reportedly be procured from the Vadgaon forest range in Pune.

Sources have, however, said that the institute will have to do the monkey catching itself, with the forest department only assisting them in the process.

Forest Minister Sanjay Rathod said, The vaccine will be tested on the monkeys and I have granted permission for it. He added, NIV will have to ensure their daily routine is not disrupted and the project cannot be used on a commercial basis. He also said that the permissions were granted on the condition that NIV will take good care of the animals.

The permissions were granted keeping in view that NIV was a government institution. More than 10 vaccines areunder trial in the country. Dr Harsh Vardhan last week said that around 4 vaccines are likely to enter the phase of clinical trials in the next 3 to 6 months.

A vaccine is one of the only ray of hopes against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for causing COVID-19. There is no specific cure, or vaccine available against the virus, as of now.

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COVID-19 vaccine to be tested on 30 monkeys in NIV Pune, Forest Department gives its nod - Times Now