Centre fast tracks emergency approvals of COVID-19 Vaccines approved for emergency use in foreign countries to expand Vaccination Coverage

The Central Government has fast tracked the emergency approvals for foreign  vaccines that have been granted emergency use authorization. The steps are being taken to expand the basket of vaccines for domestic use and fasten the vaccination in the country.
 
National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19, NEGVAC has recommended that Covid-19 vaccines which have been developed, manufactured, granted emergency approval for restricted use by several foreign countries and listed in the World Health Organization’s emergency use listing may be granted emergency use approval in India.
 
It also recommended that the first 100 beneficiaries of such foreign vaccines shall be assessed for seven days for safety outcomes before it is being rolled out for immunization programme in the country. The Union Government has accepted the recommendations of NEGVAC.
 
AIR correspondent reports that vaccination is one of the important strategies adopted by the Centre to curb the spread of Covid pandemic in the country. The decision will facilitate quicker access to such foreign vaccines by India. It will also provide a fillip to vaccine manufacturing capacity and vaccine availability in the country.
 
A special vaccination team has been sent to remotely located Chowra island in Nicobar to vaccinate the people at their door steps under the ongoing Tika Utsav in Andaman and Nicobar island.