India likely to approve Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine today

Britain became the first country in the world to approve the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.

India is likely to approve Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on December 30 hours after the UK approved the coronavirus jab. "India approval of Oxford vaccine is expected today in all likelihood," a highly-placed source at Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) told News18.

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is scheduled to meet on December 30 to consider the Serum Institute of India's application for emergency use approval of its COVID-19 vaccine.

The CDSCO had first reviewed three EUA applications on December 9 and sought more information from all vaccine makers, including Serum Institute of India (SII), which is making the AstraZeneca shots.

Reacting to UK approval, the Serum Institute of India (SII) also said that it is hoping for the emergency use approval of the COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' by the end of this month or January in India.

The government was yet to place a purchase order for the Covishield vaccine, Poonawalla said. "SII is ready to distribute the vaccine once the approval comes in. India will come first, then other countries," he added.

The oxford vaccine is expected to be relied on in many countries because of its low cost, availability and ease of use. It can be kept in refrigerators rather than the ultra-cold storage other vaccines require.