SII applies for govt approval to administer its vaccine to common people in India

The Serum Institute of India (SII) has sought the permission of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to allow its vaccine for being administered to people in India.

The Pune-based pharmaceutical company, which is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, has announced it on its Twitter handle.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO and Owner of the SII said, “As promised, before the end of 2020, @SerumInstIndia has applied for emergency use authorisation for the first made-in-India vaccine, COVISHIELD.”

He added, “This will save countless lives, and I thank the Government of India and Sri @narendramodi ji for their invaluable support.”

Emergency use authorisation is a process under which the regulator doesn’t cross-verify the claims made by the manufacturer for the simple reason there is an urgency to grant approval.

The Covid-19 pandemic has created a situation where it is urgent to develop a vaccine that can fight against the virus.

Before SII, the US-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer turned out to be the first company to seek emergency use authorisation from the US drug regulator, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for its use on common people.

Pfizer has also applied for emergency use authorisation in India. They have been waiting for approval.

Once they get the go-ahead, the vaccine will be available to be administered to common people.

Considering the huge population, the government in India is prioritising its use as it is not possible to administer it to everyone at one go.