India has formally approved the emergency use of two coronavirus vaccines.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted its first emergency conditional approvals Jan. 3 for a pair of COVID-19 vaccines, including Covishield, developed abroad by Astrazeneca plc and Oxford University and manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII). The DCGI also approved Covaxin, which was developed locally by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Ltd. in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research, and is still in phase III trials.

The vaccine, which is known as COVISHIELD in India, is administered in two doses given between four and 12 weeks apart. It can be safely stored at temperatures of 2C to 8C, about the same as a domestic fridge, and can be delivered in existing health care settings.

Indian firm Bharat Biotech has reported interim results from the Phase I clinical trial that showed its Covid-19 vaccine, COVAXIN, induced a robust immune response with no serious adverse effects.

The vaccine, stored between 2°C and 8°C, is ideal for all national immunisation programme cold chain needs, Bharat Biotech noted.

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-oxford-sii-vaccines-approved-bharat-biotech-covid-19-7130887/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-55520658