Market approval for Covishield, Covaxin likely to come with riders

Will the vaccines be freely available with chemists?

The subject expert committee’s recommendation for regular market approval to Covishield and Covaxin, if accepted by the regulator, could be subject to some conditions, the government has indicated. 

There is lack of clarity at present on whether the market authorisation for the vaccines means these would be available at chemist shops for the general public to buy and if the vaccine makers would be allowed to sell them freely. 

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, “Whether the approval would be with certain conditions will be known in the future. Once that decision is taken, these questions will be answered.” 

Experts said, in principle, such