DCGI approves restricted use of SII’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin

at 11:43 am
Covishield
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New Delhi (NVI): The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) today approved the restricted use of Oxford Covishied vaccine and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for emergency cases in India.

Covishield and Covaxin are the first vaccines against the pandemic in the country. Both the drug firms have submitted data on their trial runs and both have been granted permission for “restricted use”.

While announcing the decision at a press conference regarding vaccine approvals, DGCI chief VG Somani said, “We’ll never approve anything if there’s slightest of safety concern. Vaccines are 110 % safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain & allergy are common for every vaccine. It (that people may get impotent) is absolute rubbish.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted on the big development, saying that the approval accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation.

“A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators,” he said in a tweet.

“It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion,” he said in another tweet.

“We reiterate our gratitude to doctors, medical staff, scientists, police personnel, sanitation workers and all Corona warriors for the outstanding work done, that too in adverse circumstances. We will remain eternally grateful to them for saving many lives,” the PM said.

Taking to Twitter, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla said all the risks that SII took with stockpiling the vaccine have finally paid off.

“Happy new year, everyone! All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India’s first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks,” he said will tagging and thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Singh and others in a tweet.

Yesterday, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) panel had recommended granting approval for restricted emergency use of Bharat Biotech’s indigenous COVID vaccine ‘Covaxin’ in India.

Earlier on Friday, Covishield, the Covid-19 vaccine being manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII) got approval for emergency use in India by the subject expert committee of CDSCO.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also welcomed India’s decision for giving emergency use authorisation to Covid-19 vaccines. “WHO welcomes the first emergency use authorisation given to Covid-19 vaccine in the WHO South-East Asia Region. This decision taken today by India will help intensify and strengthen the fight against Covid-19 pandemic in the Region. The use of vaccine in prioritised populations, along with continued implementation of other public health measures and community participation, will be important in reducing impact of Covid-19,” Dr Poonam Khetrapal, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia said in a statement.

Meanwhile, India recorded 18,177 fresh coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the overall tally to 1.03 crore. Apart from that, 217 fresh deaths linked to the virus were reported, taking the total number of fatalities to 1,49,435.

-ARK

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