Indian drug regulator approves Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use
Vials with a sticker reading, COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken on October 31, 2020. Reuters file photo Reuters, New Delhi Reuters, New Delhi
India s drug regulator on Friday approved a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for emergency use, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The decision clears the vaccine s rollout in the world s second-most populous country which, after the United States, has the highest number of Covid-19 infections.
India wants to start administering the vaccine soon, most likely by Wednesday, said one of the sources, both of whom declined to be named ahead of an official announcement expected later in the day.
01 Jan 2021 - 15:26
Vials with a sticker reading, COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken October 31, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo
Reuters
NEW DELHI: India s drug regulator on Friday approved a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for emergency use, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The approval paves the way for its rollout in the world s second worst affected country.
A representative of India s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), whose experts are meeting for the second time this week and also considering two other vaccines, declined to comment.
India: AstraZeneca Covid vaccine set to become first one approved
Reuters/New Delhi Filed on January 1, 2021
More than 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have already been stockpiled by its local manufacturer.
India’s drug regulator is set to approve on Friday a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for emergency use, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The decision would pave the way for the vaccine’s rollout in the world’s second-most populous country which, after the United States, has the highest number of Covid-19 infections in the world.
Britain and Argentina have already authorised the vaccine for urgent public use.
A government-appointed panel of experts has approved a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for emergency use and will send its recommendations to the country’s drugs regulator, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
More than 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have already been stockpiled by its local manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India (SII).
Two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters news agency the vaccine was close to being approved.
One of the sources said the shots could start to be transported from cold storage to Indian states as early as Saturday.
The SII said in an email it would “wait for the final approval to come” before commenting.