India becomes first country to administer COVID-19 DNA vaccine.

Why in news?

• India has become the first country in the world to administer a DNA vaccine against COVID-19.
• The ZyCoV-D which is the World’s first plasmid DNA vaccine has been produced by Ahmedabad-based vaccine manufacturer Zydus Cadila and it was administered for the first time in Patna.
• It is the second India-made vaccine to get emergency authorization in India after Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.

About ZyCov – D Vaccine

• The vaccine is to be administered only persons in the age group of 12 to 19 years.
• The ZyCov – D is administered using a needle – free applicator.
• It is a three dose vaccine. It is taken at 28^thday and 56^th day of the first dose.
• The ZyCov – D showed 66.6% efficiacy.
• The ZyCov – D vaccine was developed on plasmid DNA. In simple terms, it was developed using a piece of DNA of the weakened or killed virus. When this DNA piece is injected into the body, the human immune systems learn to respond against the virus. The plasmid is produced using E Coli cells.