NEW DELHI: Government of India is liable to permit Oxford/AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use by next week after its local manufacture gave the additional data authorities were asking for. India could be the first country to authorise the British drug maker’s vaccine as the British medicine regulator continues to examine data from the trials.
The AstraZeneca-oxford vaccine is believed to be important for the lower-income countries and those in hot climates as it is cheaper, convenient to transport and can be stored for longer time at normal fridge temperatures.
The awaited approved follows after the release of data earlier in December from AstraZeneca’s late-stage trials in the United Kingdom and Brazil which showed that the shot had efficacy of 62 per cent for the trial volunteers were given two full doses, but 90 per cent for a smaller sub-group given a half, them a full dose.
World’s biggest vaccine-making country, India, wants to start vaccinating its citizens from January and is also considering authorising the application for emergency use for vaccines made by Pfizer and Bharat Biotech.