The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO) expert panel recommended the grant of permission for restricted emergency use of Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield in India. The vaccine was further sent for approval to the regulator Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Covishield, has been developed in collaboration with Serum Institue of India (SII).
It is the first vaccine to get approval in India.
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Wednesday had approved the Covid-19 vaccine developed by scientists at Oxford University and produced by AstraZeneca for human use.
In a key meeting today, the applications filed for emergency use of coronavirus vaccine by the SII, Bharat Biotech and Pfizer were taken up for consideration by a government-appointed panel of experts.
The ongoing meeting comes a day before the dry run for vaccination will be carried out in all states.
The SII is manufacturing 'Covishield' vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharma industry major AstraZeneca. Bharat Biotech partnered with the Indian Council of Medical Research to produce 'Covaxin', and Pfizer has asked for time to present its data.
After SII's application, the SEC has started reviewing the EUA application by Bharat Biotech for its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin but is yet to take a final decision on the matter, sources said.
The CDSCO panel has asked Bharat Biotech to expedite volunteer recruitment, recommends interim efficacy analysis for Covaxin
The government and the SII are yet to sign an agreement on the purchase of the vaccine.
(With PTI inputs.)
(With PTI inputs.)
