India has estimated that their COVID-19 vaccine would be available for use in February 2021.

The Indian government-backed COVID-19 vaccine through Bharat Biotech, a private company that is developing COVAXIN alongside the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), was previously expected in the second quarter of the next year.

While the last-stage trials of the vaccine is set to begin this month, studies have so far shown it is safe and effective, according to scientists.

Reuters have reported that the Senior ICMR scientist, Rajni Kant, who is a member of its COVID-19 task force, said at the research body’s New Delhi headquarters on Thursday, that the vaccine has shown good efficacy and is "expected that by the begging of next year, February or March, something would be available.”