India approves 2 Covid vaccines for emergency use

This is a major relief for India which has the second highest number of infections in the world, after the US. The Central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of drive in the next six to eight months.

New Delhi: Eleven months after the first case of deadly coronavirus was detected in India, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani on Sunday approved Serum Institute of India’s ‘Covishield’ vaccine and Bharat Biotech’s ‘Covaxin’ for emergency use, paving way for its roll-out and administration to millions.

“After adequate examination, the CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccine of Serum and Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situation,” Somani said.

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Covishield and Covaxin have to be administered in two doses and can be stored at 2-8 degree Celsius. The Drugs Controller General of India has also granted permission to Cadila healthcare for phase 3 clinical trial in India.

This is a major relief for India which has the second highest number of infections in the world after the US. The Central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of drive in the next six to eight months.

The vaccine will be first offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with co-morbidities.

The DCGI also quelled rumours surrounding the Covid-19 vaccines regarding impotency, rubbishing such speculations as “complete nonsense”.

“We will never approve anything if there is even the slightest safety concern. Vaccines are 110 per cent safe. Some side effects such as mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine. It (rumours of impotency) is complete nonsense,” VG Somani, Drug Controller General of India said.

When asked if people would face side effects after taking the vaccine, the DCGI said, “Yes, minor side effects will be there, including a little like pain in the shoulders, a slight fever, little allergies. This occurs in every vaccine but of-course, the vaccine is 110 per cent safe.” Meanwhile, he said, ‘It (the vaccines) are very safe don’t worry’ in his interaction.

On December 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged people to be careful regarding rumours about vaccines and as responsible citizens refrain from forwarding messages on social media without checking.

“The number of new cases of COVID-19 is decreasing in the country now. We are preparing to run the world’s largest vaccination programme in the next year. In our country, rumours spread quickly. Different people for their personal gains or due to irresponsible behaviour spread various rumours. Maybe rumours will be spread when vaccination begins, some have already begun,” Prime Minister Modi had said.