Highlights
It is expected that the vaccination drive would now soon begin in the country.
The dry run of vaccines was conducted in all states and union territories on January 2.
In a significant development, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday (January 2) formally approved Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech vaccines for restricted emergency use against COVID-19 in India. It is expected that the vaccination drive would now soon begin in the country. The dry run of vaccines was conducted in all states and union territories on January 2.
Here is all you need to know about Serum Institute s Covishield and Bharat Biotech s Covaxin:
DCGI clears SII, Bharat Biotech s COVID-19 vaccines: Explaining what emergency use authorisation means and why it is essential In India, drug regulations do not have provisions for emergency use approval and the procedure for receiving one is not clearly defined FP Staff January 03, 2021 12:27:44 IST Representational image. AP
Editor s note:
This explainer is being republished in light of the DCGI s approval for restricted emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday approved the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Bharat Biotech, and Serum Institute of India (SII) for restricted emergency use.
Two vaccines for coronavirus, Oxford University's Covishield, which is being developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, received emergency approval from the country's drug regulator on Sunday. "We'll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 110 per cent safe," Drug Controller General of India VG Somani said, adding Covishield was found to be 70.42 per cent effective and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin was "safe and provides a robust immune response". Hailing the scientific community and frontline Corona warriors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India". There is no word yet on when the vaccination process will begin.
Congress and the Opposition is not proud of anything Indian : JP Nadda hits out over COVID-19 vaccines approval freepressjournal.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from freepressjournal.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
India has approved two coronavirus vaccines for emergency use - Covishield developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University in partnership with Pune-based Serum Institute of India and Covaxin, which has been indegeniously developed by Bharat Biotech.