By Nigam Prusty and Shilpa Jamkhandikar
NEW DELHI, Jan 1 (Reuters) - 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.
A representative of India s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), whose experts are meeting for the second time this week, declined to comment.
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Justin Tallis / AFP
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 Organisation (CDSCO), whose experts are meeting for the second time this week and also considering two other vaccines, declined to comment.
Britain and Argentina have already authorised the vaccine for urgent public use.
India wants to start administering the shots soon.
It is also considering emergency-use authorisation applications for vaccines made by Pfizer Inc with Germany s BioNTech, and by India s Bharat Biotech.
AstraZeneca s Covid-19 Vaccine Set To Become First One Approved In India: Report Britain and Argentina have already authorised the vaccine for urgent public use
Updated: January 01, 2021 5:50 pm IST
AstraZeneca s later stage trial results showed higher efficacy when a half dose is followed by full dose.
India s drug regulator, Drugs Controller General of India, 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.
India s drug regulator approves AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine: sources | 104 1 WIKY wiky.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wiky.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.