World Health Organization clears Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use
- by Lorene Schwartz
- in People
- — Jan 4, 2021
Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturing company, has been contracted by AstraZeneca to make 1 billion doses for developing nations, including India. Phase I and Phase II clinical trials were conducted in approx.800 subjects and the results have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and provides a robust immune response.
Meanwhile, the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) will convene on January 5, 2021, to formulate vaccine-specific policies and recommendations for this product's use in populations, drawing from the SAGE population prioritization recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in general, issued in September 2020.
Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India (SII) said on Sunday that the Covishield, India's first Covid-19 vaccine will roll out in the coming weeks.
"On what basis was this approval given when Bharat Biotech has NOT shown enough data proving safety & efficacy?" transparency activist Saket Gokhale asked on Twitter.
Duque said the Pfizer vaccine might be rolled out in March.
The WHO established its emergency use listing (EUL) process to help more countries, especially poorer countries, without their own regulatory resources quickly approve medicines for new diseases like COVID-19, which otherwise could lead to delays.
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Grafton police announced the arrest of the pharmacist Thursday, but did know name the man or identify a motive. The minister today reviewed the dry run of administering the vaccine at GTB hospital in Delhi today .
The prime minister said that every Indian will be proud because the two vaccines that have been granted emergency use authorisation by the DCGI are made in India.
M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech vaccines have to be administered in two doses.
"For individuals who started the schedule and who attend for vaccination at a site where the same vaccine is not available, or if the first product received is unknown, it is reasonable to offer one dose of the locally available product to complete the schedule", the updated guidance states.
Matthew W., an ER nurse at two different hospitals in the San Diego area, talked about receiving the Pfizer vaccine on Facebook.
"Several tens of millions of doses will have been manufactured... and therefore will be available for use if the data supports its approval", he said. All the three vaccines have to be stored at 2-8° C, said DCGI.
II, the world's biggest producer of vaccines, has already stockpiled about 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford shot, which will be sold to the government at about 250 rupees ($3.42) per dose and 1,000 rupees on the private market. "Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists and innovators", he said.
