India approves AstraZeneca and local COVID vaccines, roll out seen soonhttps://news.yahoo.com/india-gives-final-urgent-approval-055402258.htmlNEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved for emergency use two coronavirus vaccines, one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and the other by local company Bharat Biotech and a state-run institute.
The decisions mark the first vaccine approvals in India, which after the United States has recorded the most infections of the novel coronavirus, and could enable the country to source vaccines locally.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the approvals.
"It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India!" he said on Twitter, calling it a sign of a "self-reliant" country.
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The AstraZeneca shot, already approved in Britain, Argentina and El Salvador, will take the lead in India and Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN will be administered under stricter conditions given no efficacy data has been released for it.
The Indian government has yet to sign a formal deal for the AstraZeneca vaccine with its local maker, Serum Institute of India (SII), although this is expected within days. SII has stockpiled 50 million doses.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is being produced in India (among other locations, obviously). Covaxin, which was developed in India, has completed Phases I and II testing, successfully, and began Phase III testing in November.
