UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic

 consider the following statements:

1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.
   
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation: 

• Covishield produced by the Serum Institute of India, is a recombinant, replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vector encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein. Following administration, the genetic material of part of corona virus is expressed which stimulates an immune response. So, statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• Sputnik V vaccine is developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute. It is based on non-replicating human adenovirus vector platform. So, statement 2 is correct.
  
  
• COVAXIN is a whole-virion inactivated coronavirus vaccine which is also used to manufacture vaccines like Influenza, Rabies and Hepatitis- A. It is manufactured by Bharat Biotech. So, statement 3 is correct.
  
  
• In mRNA vaccines, the messenger RNAs trigger an immune response in our bodies which in turn produces antibodies and thus protects us from the infection. In India, the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology researchers are currently testing a mRNA vaccine candidate against Covid-19.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: Science & Technology|Health and Diseases