On Sunday, 3 January, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted permission to Bharat Biotech’s indigenous COVID vaccine ‘Covaxin’ and Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine for restricted use in emergency situation.

“After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of Serum and Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situation and permission is being granted to Cadila Healthcare for conduct of the Phase III clinical trial,” DCGI said in a press briefing.

It further said that the vaccine of Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech have to be administered in two doses. Further, all the vaccines have to be stored at a temperature of 2-8 degree celsius.

Serum Institute’s Adar Poonawalla tweeted about the approval saying, “All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks.”

Happy new year, everyone! All the risks @SerumInstIndia took with stockpiling the vaccine, have finally paid off. COVISHIELD, India's first COVID-19 vaccine is approved, safe, effective and ready to roll-out in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/TcKh4bZIKK

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 3, 2021

Meanwhile, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia Region, said that the organisation welcomed the approval.

On Saturday, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) panel had recommended granting approval for restricted emergency use of Bharat Biotech's indigenous COVID vaccine ‘Covaxin’ in India.