Covishield moves closer to roll-out; SII gets in-principle nod from panel

India would need 30 million doses in the first phase when it vaccinates the essential services workers including health care professionals, municipal and police staff, etc

At a marathon meeting on Friday, the expert panel gave an in-principle nod to Serum Institute of India (SII), ending the country’s wait for a Covid-19 vaccine. The Subject Expert Committee (SEC), which is advising the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on the matter, recommended restricted emergency use authorisation for the Serum Institute vaccine. There was no official word from the DCGI—the regulator — till the time of going to press.

Bharat Biotech’s vaccine, which was also being considered by the committee for approval, has to wait. The expert committee has sought more data from Bharat Biotech on efficacy of