COVID-19 Vaccines with Approval for Emergency or Conditional Usage
Covishield
On January 1, 2021, the Drug Controller General of India, approved the emergency or conditional use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine AZD1222 (marketed as Covishield). [5] Covishield is developed by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech. [6] It's a viral vector vaccine based on replication-deficient Adenovirus that causes cold in Chimpanzees. It can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions (two-eight degrees Celsius/ 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit). It has a shelf-life of at least six months.
On 12 January 2021 first batches of Covishield vaccine was despatched from the Serum Institute of India. [7]
Covaxin
On January 2, 2021, BBV152 (marketed as Covaxin), first indigenous vaccine, developed by Bharat Biotech in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology received approval from the Drug Controller General of India for its emergency or conditional usage. [8]
On 14 January 2021 first batches of Covaxin vaccine was despatched from the Bharat Biotech, albeit it was still in the third phase of testing. [9]
Others
On 19 May 2021, Dr Reddy's Labs received Emergency Use Authorisation for anti-COVID drug 2-DG. [10] On 21 February 2022, Drugs Controller General of India granted approval to Biological E's COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax, that can be used for children between 12 and 18 years of age. [11] [12]
On 21 October 2021, India completed administering of one billion Covid vaccines in the country. [13]
On 8 January 2022, India crossed 1.5 billion Covid vaccines milestone in the country. [14]
On 19 February 2022, India crossed 1.75 billion Covid vaccines milestone in the country. [15]
