India regulator approves AstraZeneca COVID vaccine, country’s first: Sources
India’s drug regulator on Friday approved a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for emergency use, two sources
with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.
The approval paves the way for its rollout in the world’s second worst affected country.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app
A representative of India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), whose experts are meeting for the second time this week and also considering two other vaccines, declined to comment.
Read more: AstraZeneca vaccine should combat COVID-19 variant
Britain and Argentina have already authorized the vaccine for urgent public use.
India wants to start administering the shots soon.
It is also considering emergency-use authorization applications for vaccines made by Pfizer Inc with Germany’s BioNTech, and by India’s Bharat Biotech.
At more than 10 million, India has reported the second highest number of coronavirus cases after the United States, though its rate of infection has come down significantly from a mid-September peak.
-
BioNTech to boost vaccine production, say can’t fully cover lack of other vaccines
-
Coronavirus: Pfizer/BioNTech first vaccine to get WHO validation for emergency use
-
Coronavirus: What we know about China's vaccine development, efficacy data, timelines
-
Coronavirus: Local funding crisis threatens US COVID-19 vaccine rollout
-
AstraZeneca vaccine should combat COVID-19 variant