UPSC Prelims 2022 · Question 39 of 98

UPSC Prelims 2022 question on COVID 19 Vaccine Platforms

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?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
Show answer

Answer: B. 2 and 3 only

Verdict

Correct statements: 2 and 3 → Option (b).

Statement by statement

Statement 1 – INCORRECT: Covishield is NOT an mRNA-based vaccine. Covishield (produced by Serum Institute of India) is a recombinant, replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vector encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein — it is a viral vector vaccine. By using elimination technique, one can reach option (b).

Statement 2 – CORRECT: Sputnik V is an adenovirus viral vector vaccine for COVID-19 developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia. It is the world's first registered combination vector vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19, having been registered on 11 August 2020 by the Russian Ministry of Health.

Statement 3 – CORRECT: Covaxin is an indigenous, inactivated pathogen type vaccine developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) high containment facility. The vaccine is developed using Whole-Virion Inactivated Vero Cell derived platform technology.

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