Thanks to his efforts, a new, cheap coronavirus vaccine will soon be available in India
Dr. Peter J. Hotez, a noted physician-scientist in tropical diseases and vaccine development will deliver the keynote address at AAPI’s 40th annual convention in San Antonio, Texas from June 23 to 26.
Millions of doses of a new, cheap ‘world’s coronavirus vaccine’ developed by Hotez’s team of researchers will soon be available in India, Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), announced Monday.
Hotez is Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine.
He is also the Co-director of the Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) and Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pedi, where he and his team of researchers have made the new Corbevax inoculation, according to an AAPI press release.
Read: Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar to address AAPI’s 40th Convention (February 9, 2022)
Developed in Texas with decades-old technology and little support from the US government, Corbevax received emergency use authorization last month from India’s drug regulation agency.
Unlike other vaccines in the market, Dr. Hotez and his team “don’t own any intellectual property.” Describing it as the “World’s Coronavirus Vaccine” Dr. Hotez and colleagues say Corbevax is cheap and stable and could be relatively easy to scale.
It will be key to addressing global equity gaps, says Hotez “That’s all we know how to do is make durable, low-cost vaccines for global health,”
Describing Hotez as a true friend of India, Dr. Jayesh Shah, past President of AAPI and Chair of AAPI Convention 2022, said his presence at the AAPI Convention “is a way for us, Physicians of Indian Origin to honor a legendary and celebrated champion of vaccines.”
Dr. Hotez has authored more than 600 original papers. An ardent champion of vaccines going up against a growing national “antivax” threat, in 2019, he received the Award for Leadership in Advocacy for Vaccines from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. In 2021 he was recognized by scientific leadership awards from the AAMC and the AMA.
Read: Dr. Peter Jay Hotez, Scientist, Researcher, Author, & Science Explainer To Deliver Keynote Address During AAPI’s 40th Convention In San Antonio (February 22, 2022)
“AAPI is planning a historic convention in San Antonio to celebrate 40 years of AAPI that coincides with 75 years of India’s Independence. Excellent sessions and programs are planned,” said Venky Adivi, Chief Executive Officer of the Convention.
“The annual convention offers extensive academic presentations, recognition of achievements and achievers, and professional networking at the alumni and evening social events,” Dr. Gotimukula said.