Covid-19: Two vaccines in use, seven more in line, says Health Minister

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 5

As many as 22 countries have requested India for Covid-19 vaccine of which 15 have already been provided the vaccines, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Work is in progress for development of seven more vaccines of which three are in the third phase of clinical trial, the minister told the House during the Question Hour amid disruptions by Opposition MPs on three farm laws.

The 22 nations that have approached India for Covid-19 vaccine include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and UAE. Supply has already been made to 15 nations as grant assistance and contract doses, said the Health Minister.

Harsh Vardhan said in light of urgent need due to Covid pandemic in the country, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in consultation with the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) granted permission to manufacture two vaccines after following the prescribed procedure and evaluation of pre-clinical and clinical trial data for restricted use in emergency situation.

They include Covishield vaccine of Serum Institute of India and Covaxin vaccine of Bharat Biotech International limited, he said.

"The common adverse events reported from vaccines approved for restricted use in emergency situation include headache, rash, chills, myalgia, fatigue, fever, dizziness, inflammation and pain, swelling or redness at the site of injection, erythema, pruritus, etc," Harsh Vardhan said in a written reply.

While healthcare workers and frontline workers were prioritised for initial phases, in March persons aged 50 years and above and those less than 50 years with co-morbidities will be covered.

A total of 96,28,179 healthcare workers and 78,51,249 front-line workers had been registered as on February 3.

The expenditure to be incurred as operational cost for vaccination of estimated three crore workers is about Rs 480 crore.

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