By Online Desk
With only about 8 per cent of the adult population in India fully vaccinated, the DGCI on Saturday allowed restricted use authorisation to Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose Covid vaccine.
Union Health Minsiter Manuskh Mandaviya confirmed the same on Twitter, “India expands its vaccine basket! Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is given approval for Emergency Use in India. Now India has 5 EUA vaccines. This will further boost our nation’s collective fight against #COVID19.”
Nearly seven months since the launch of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme, the Indian goverment has faced a severe shortage at different points and the fifth vaccine will help solve the issue.
J&J’s single dose vaccine has also been slated as a crucial component in the coming days as it may be logistically easy to administer and offers quick coverage to a vast population.
#Breaking: J & J’s single dose #CovidVaccine granted emergency use permission by the DGCI. It becomes fifth Covid vaccine to be approved in India.@NewIndianXpress #COVID
— Sumi Dutta (@SumiSukanya) August 7, 2021
A bid by the Association of Healthcare Providers of India to procure the J&J vaccines in private hospitals had, however, failed last month due to regulatory hurdles.
Earlier, the government also missed the timeline of supplying 51 crore doses of vaccines by July.
The inoculation programme against COVID-19 in the country so far has largely been driven by Covishield, being produced by SII which had supplied nearly 45 crore doses till August 5 while Covaxin, being produced by Bharat Biotech, has remained a minor player at less than 7 crore doses.
(With ENS inputs)