Covishield vaccine: Serum Institute applies for emergency use authorisation

Vaccine manufacturing major Serum Institute of India (SII) on Monday said it has applied to Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, the PTI reported.

The Pune-based company has collaborated with Oxford University and pharmaceutical company Astra Zeneca for making the vaccine and is conducting trials in India.

According to the report, SII CEO Adar Poonawala said in a tweet “As promised, before the end of 2020, @SerumInstIndia has applied for emergency use authorisation for the first made-in-India vaccine, Covishield,” .

He further said: “This will save countless lives, and I thank the Government of India and Sri @narendramodi ji for their invaluable support.”

Last week, Pfizer India said it has applied to India’s drug regulator DCGI for emergency-use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine, after the company’s parent received clearance for the treatment from Britain and Bahrain, the PTI report said.