2 More COVID Vaccines & An Anti-Viral Drug Get Centre Approval For Use

New Delhi: Two more COVID-19 vaccines and an anti-viral drug will now be available for use in the country after the Centre gave its approval on Tuesday.

The Centre approved the vaccines – Corbevax and Covovax – and anti-viral drug Molnupiravir aftet the drug regulator Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare gave its nod for their use.

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, in a series of tweets, said the vaccines and the drug are meant for restricted use in emergency situation.

“CORBEVAX vaccine is India’s first indigenously developed RBD protein sub-unit vaccine against COVID19, made by Hyderabad-based firm Biological-E. It’s a hat-trick! It’s now 3rd vaccine developed in India!” Mandaviya said.

Covovax, a nanoparticle vaccine, will be manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) which is currently producing Covishield vaccine.

He further said the antiviral drug, Molnupiravir will be manufactured by 13 companies. It is meant for restricted use under emergency situation for treatment of adult patients with COVID and who have high risk of progression of the disease.

COVID vaccines Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V are already in use in the country.