Drugs Controller General of India approves Oxford-Astra Zeneca's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's indigenous Covaxin for restricted use in the country. These two vaccines are approved in India for emergency and restricted use in India. The subject expert committee had recommended Covaxin on Saturday for restricted in India.

Drugs Controller General of India approved these vaccine on Sunday and said “ Serum Institute of India's 'Covishield' and Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin' — for emergency restricted use.” These two vaccines are approved for restricted use in India and these vaccines must be stored at 2-8° C. These vaccines must be given to the person two doses.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr V.G. Somani announced today at 11 am authorized these two COVID-19 vaccine candidates for restricted use in the country. India is expected to start world’s largest vaccination drive against deadly Coronavirus in the India.

PM Congratulates the nation on vaccine approval of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech; and expressed his gratitude towards corona warriors.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has called the DCGI approval of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech vaccines, a decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight against Corona.

In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said “A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of @SerumInstIndia and @BharatBiotech accelerates the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators.”

Approval of these two vaccines for emergency use in the country is one step further towards fight against deadly Coronavirus which originated in China last December 2020. Due to Coronavirus more than 18 Lakh people died and infected over 85 Crore people globally. In India 1.5 lakh people died while 1 Crore people infected with the Coronavirus as of now. So, it becomes very importance to develop and vaccinate people against Coronavirus.

Globally people are waiting for the successful vaccine against Coronavirus. UK already approved AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate for the emergency use in UK.  Just after approval  in UK AstraZeneca already started rolling out thousands of doses for the country’s high-priority groups. AstraZeneca in a statement said to supply 2 million doses of Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine in United Kingdom.

According to the Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, under the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive one crore healthcare and two crore frontline workers will be given vaccines for free.