India’s first Covid vaccines: DCGI approves Oxford vaccine, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday approved Covaxin and Covishield for restricted emergency use.

While making the announcement, Dr VG Somani, DCGI Chief, said that recommendations of the subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) have been accepted. “Vaccines of Bharat Biotech and Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) are being approved for restricted emergency use,” he said.

Hailing the DCGI’s decision to grant approval for the emergency use of the two COVID-19 vaccines, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it will accelerate the road to COVID-19 free India.

The subject expert committee had approved the restricted use of Covaxin in emergency situations. Covaxin is being indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech. The panel also cleared the emergency use authorisation application of the Serum Institute of India (SII). The SII has is developing Covishield in collaboration with AstraZeneca.

With this, India is all set to get at least two vaccines in the next few days. Also, there are two COVID-19 vaccines that are in advanced stages of development. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that India was the only country in the world where four COVID-19 vaccines were in the pipeline.

When asked to comment on people raising doubts over vaccines, the Union minister said that it is ‘effective.’ “It is being used by other countries as well. These vaccines are being introduced by proper tests and are being brought in because they are safe.”

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has appealed people to be misguided ‘rumours’ about the efficacy and safety of the coronavirus vaccines. “Every vaccine will be approved only after it fulfils all the protocol,” Vardhan said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)