India has officially authorized the emergency use of two coronavirus vaccines, as it prepares for one of the largest vaccination campaigns in the world.
 |
| India approves vaccines from Bharat Biotech and Oxford / AstraZeneca |
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a "critical turning point".
India plans to vaccinate around 300 million people on the priority list this year.
It has recorded the second largest number of infections in the world, with more than 10.3 million cases confirmed so far. Nearly 150,000 people were killed.
On Saturday, India held nationwide training to prepare more than 90,000 health care workers to administer vaccines across the country of 1.3 billion people.
How are one billion people vaccinated?
Are Indians more immune to Covid-19?
How a "warm vaccine" can help India cope with COVID-19
India's General Superintendent of Narcotics said both manufacturers had provided data showing that their vaccines were safe to use.
The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is manufactured locally by the Indian Serum Institute, the world's largest vaccine producer. It says it produces more than 50 million doses per month.
Adar Bunawala, the company's chief executive, told the BBC in November that it aimed to increase production to 100 million doses a month after it received regulatory approval.
The shot of the vaccine, known as Coffeeshield in India, is given in two doses, each given between four and 12 weeks. It can be stored safely in temperatures from 2 ° C to 8 ° C, almost like a home refrigerator, and can be delivered in current healthcare settings such as doctors' surgeries.
This makes dispensing easier than some of the other vaccines. The vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNTech - which is currently managed in many countries - must be stored at -70 ° C and can only be transported a limited number of times - a particular challenge in India, where summer temperatures can reach 50 degrees. percentage.
0 Comments