India okays 2 COVID-19 vaccines |
In a landmark decision immediately after ringing in 2021, the Indian government has announced the emergency use of 2 COVID-19 vaccines. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on 3rd January 2021 said it granted conditional emergency use authorization to Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech Covid-19 vaccines. India`s vaccination drive is likely to begin in the next 7-14 days. The government plans to vaccinate 300 million persons by July-August. Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said 30 million healthcare and frontline workers will be inoculated for free in the first phase. Bharat Biotech has been granted approval in clinical trial mode. Those who take Bharat Biotech vaccine will be monitored like trial participants. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the approval of the vaccines would accelerate the road to a healthier and Covid-free nation. He said it was `a decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight`. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director and national task force on Covid-19 management member, Dr. Randeep Guleria, said the Serum Institute vaccine would be rolled out first, and that the Bharat Biotech vaccine had been approved as a backup plan. Dr. Guleria said that if there would a situation like number of cases going up or if the cases of mutant virus would start to go up, India would decide to introduce the Bharat Biotech vaccine without delay. His statement came amid questions being asked about the approval given to the Bharat Biotech, which has not yet disclosed its efficacy data.
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