India’s drug regulator will approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for emergency use on Friday, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The decision would pave the way for the launch of the vaccine in the second most populous country in the world, which, after the United States, has the highest number of COVID-19 infections in the world.
Great Britain and Argentina have already authorized the vaccine for urgent public use.
India’s Central Medicines Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), whose experts met for the second time this week, could also approve a locally developed vaccine by Bharat Biotech, two of the sources said on condition of anonymity.
“Both AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech will get approval today,” said one of the sources. “All preparations are taking into account today’s date.”
The other sources were less certain about the prospects for Bharat Biotech.
A representative for CDSCO declined to comment. The group will meet a day before a national test to be held here for the delivery of vaccines in the country with more than 10 million coronavirus infections.
More than 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have already been stockpiled by its local manufacturer, Serum Institute of India (SII), and one of the sources said the injections could begin to be transported from cold storage to the states of the United States. India starting Saturday.
Preparation for the Covid-19 vaccination test at a clinic in New Delhi on Friday. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
The SII did not immediately respond to an email request seeking comment.
The government said Wednesday that Pfizer Inc had sought more time to submit data for the emergency authorization of a vaccine it has developed with Germany’s BioNTech.
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