New Delhi, January 3, 2021
A visibly elated Adar Poonawalla – CEO and owner of the Serum Institute of India, took to social media and his Twitter handle to express his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, The Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, and all concerned in facilitating the approval of the vaccine Covishield manufactured by his company SII.
In a much-awaited decision, two indigenous vaccines have been approved by the Indian government. The Pune based, Serum Institute of India or SII, has manufactured Covishield. This vaccine has been developed by the Oxford University and Astra Zeneca and has been approved by the Indian Government. It has also approved Bharat Biotech’s – Covaxin. Both these vaccines have been granted permission for restricted and emergency use. SII is Pune based and has already manufactured 50 million doses of the Oxford Astra Vaccine.
Poonawalla added that this vaccine is safe and effective and all set to be rolled out in the next few weeks. Earlier on, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan had allayed fears, apprehensions, and doubts of the public related to the safety of the vaccines being approved. He had mentioned that all the necessary tests and precautions had been conducted and the vaccines were safe for administering. He had personally supervised the dry run conducted in New Delhi.
Both the vaccines have been granted restricted use approval and this shows that both are safe to be used. Drug Controller General of India, VJ Somani that the vaccines were 110 percent safe and that is why had been granted approval. He also cautioned people that it was normal to experience mild side effects with every vaccine, and similarly, they could offer with this one too.
Prime Minister Modi tweeted that both these vaccines were made in India and would make every Indian proud. The percentage of effectiveness of Covishield was rated as 70.42 percent. Covaxin was also declared safe and effective.
