New Delhi (AP) – India on Sunday authorized two COVID-19 vaccines, paving the way for a massive inoculation program to prevent coronavirus epidemics in the world’s second most populous country.
Drugs were given emergency approval by the country’s drug regulator for a vaccine developed by Xford University and UK-based drug manufacturer AstraZeneca, and another was developed by Indian company Bharat Biotech.
Drugs Controller General Dr. Venugopal G. Both vaccines will be given in two doses, Somani said. He said the decision to approve the vaccines was taken after “careful scrutiny” by India’s pharmaceutical regulator, the Central Drugs Standards Control Organization.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the vaccine approval a “turning point in strengthening the vigorous fight”.
“It makes every Indian proud that two vaccines approved for emergency use are made in India!” Modi tweeted.
AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement with the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, to create 1 billion doses of its vaccine for developing countries, including India. On Wednesday, Britain became the first country to allow the shot.
But questions have been raised by health experts over the vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech. They noted that clinical trials had only recently begun, making it almost impossible to analyze and submit a form that showed its shots were effective in preventing disease from coronavirus.
India has confirmed more than 10.3 million cases of the virus, the U.S. Back in second place in the world, although the infection rate dropped significantly in mid-September. It also killed more than 149,000 people.
The country’s initial vaccination plan aims to vaccinate 300 million people by 2021 – frontline staff, including healthcare workers, police, and those considered vulnerable to age or other diseases. For effective distribution, more than 20,000 health workers have been trained, the health ministry said, adding that the vaccine has yet to be administered.
But the plan is a big challenge. India has the largest vaccination program in the world, but it does not revolve around adults, and vaccine coverage has deteriorated. Still, any approved vaccine does not require the ultra-cold storage facilities that some do. Instead they can be stored in the refrigerator, making them more feasible for the country.
Although Serum Institute India f India does not have a written agreement with the Government of India, its chief executive Adar Poonawala said India would be “given priority” and would get a collection of about le 200 million doses, most of it.
Part of the Oxford-AstraZeneca study in about 24,000 people in Britain, Brazil and South Africa. The results indicate that the vaccine is safe and about 70% effective. It’s not as good as some other vaccine candidates, and there’s also concern about how well the vaccine will protect older people.
Another vaccine, known as covexin, has been developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with government agencies and is based on an inactivated form of coronavirus. Preliminary clinical studies have shown that the vaccine has no serious side effects and produces antibodies to COVID-19. But clinical trials began in late November. The second shot was given 28 days after the first, and the immune response was asked two weeks later.
Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. of Christian Medical College, Vellore. Gagandeep Kang said that deadline means that it is not possible that the company released data that shows the shots are effective in preventing virus infection.
A public health watchdog called the All India Drug Action Network has issued a statement calling for more transparency.
Director Somani said “the vaccine has been found to be safe,” but declined to say whether any efficacy data was shared.
The Ministry of Health said in a statement that in the interest of the people in India clinical trial mode especially in the case of infection by mutant strains “for the prohibited use as a precautionary measure in the clinical trial mode” India Biotech has been allowed to be shot.
But Kang said the claim that the vaccine could help with the mutable type of virus was “presumptive” and without any evidence.
Indian regulators are still considering approving other vaccines, including one made by Pfizer.
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The Associated Press The Department of Health and Science is supported by the Department of Science Education at Howard Hughes Medical Institute. AP is fully responsible for all content.
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