The Controller General of Drugs of India (DCGI) VG Somani reassured people on Sunday about the safety of the two Covid-19 vaccines from Bharat Biotech and Oxford-AstraZeneca when giving final approval for the injections. Somani made the formal announcement approving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin developed in the country for restricted emergency use in the country.
“After proper review, CDSCO has decided to accept the Expert Committee’s recommendations and consequently the M / s Serum and M / s Bharat Biotech vaccines are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations,” Somani said during a press conference. “We will never approve anything if there is the slightest security problem. Vaccines are 100% safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain, and allergy are common to all vaccines. It is absolute nonsense for people to become powerless, ”he said, quoted by the ANI news agency.
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Somani was trying to dispel rumors associated with vaccines as anti-vaccination groups continued to challenge the need and safety of vaccines not only in India but also in several other countries despite the increase in Covid-19 cases and deaths. On Saturday, Samajwadi Party leader Ashutosh Sinha claimed that the vaccine against the coronavirus disease could render people powerless. Sinha’s comments came after her party chief Akhilesh Yadav said she would not be vaccinated. It also discouraged people from Uttar Pradesh from getting vaccinated.
“If the Honorable Akhilesh Yadav has said this, then there will be something serious. We do not believe in the machinery of government. He said it based on facts. If you are not getting vaccinated, I think the COVID-19 vaccine could contain something that can cause harm. Tomorrow, people will say that the vaccine was administered to kill or decrease the population. You can even become powerless, anything can happen, ”Sinha said.
SP chief Yadav had said that he will not take the Covid-19 vaccine “at this time.” “That was also given by the Bharatiya Janata Party. How can I trust the BJP vaccine? When our government is formed, everyone will receive a free vaccine. We can’t take the BJP vaccine. The vaccination program under the BJP-led regime cannot be trusted, ”Yadav said.
The approval of the DCGI was praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he congratulated the drug regulator and scientists who he said worked hard to develop Covid-19 vaccines. Prime Minister Modi also highlighted that both vaccines were manufactured in India and shows that the country’s medical and scientific community is working hard to make the nation self-sufficient.
“All Indians would be proud that the two vaccines that have received emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the enthusiasm of our scientific community to fulfill the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion, ”Modi tweeted after DCGI accepted the two vaccines.
The union’s health minister, Harsh Vardhan, said Saturday that one million health workers and two front-line workers will receive the vaccine for free in the first phase.
He said: “In Phase 1 of the COVID-19 vaccination, the vaccine without vaccine will be provided nationwide to the majority of priority beneficiaries, including 1 crore from healthcare and 2 crore from frontline workers. The details of how more 27 priority CR beneficiaries will be vaccinated until July are being finalized. “
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