WHO welcomes India's approval of two Covid-19 vaccines

The World Health Organization today welcomed India's approval of two Covid-19 vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech and said it would help "strengthen" its fight against the pandemic in South East Asia.

India's drug regulator today cleared Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield manufactured by the Serum Institute, and India's locally-developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"WHO welcomes the first emergency use authorisation given to Covid-19 vaccines in the WHO South-East Asia Region. This decision taken today by India will help intensify and strengthen the fight against Covid-19 pandemic in the region," said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

According to Khetrapal, the use of vaccine in "priortised population" as well as implementation of other public health measures will be important in reducing the impact of the pandemic.