Pfizer Seeks Emergency Approval For Its Covid-19 Vaccine In India, UK To Begin Vaccinating From Dec 8

Covid Vaccine Update: Pfizer India has become the first pharmaceutical firm to seek from DCGI an emergency use authorisation for its coronavirus vaccine in the country

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Covid Vaccine:  Pfizer India has become the first pharmaceutical firm to seek from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) an emergency use authorisation for its Covid-19 vaccine in the country.  The vaccine is ready to be rolled out in the United Kingdom and Bahrain. Coronavirus LIVE Updates According to a report in PTI, the firm, in its application submitted to the drug regulator, has sought permission to import the vaccine for sale and distribution in the country, besides waiver of clinical trials on the Indian population in accordance with the special provisions under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, official sources said. "Pfizer India has submitted an application on December 4 to the DCGI seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine in India," according to reports. For a vaccine to be allowed in India it must clear clinical trials here neither Pfizer nor its partner companies had asked to hold such trials. However, the Drugs Controller General of India has "discretionary power to waive localised clinical trials for a vaccine", officials added.

India to get Covid Vaccine in few weeks: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said "three indigenous vaccines are already in the final stages of trial. "Vaccines for COVID are likely to be ready within a few weeks. Indian health agencies and manufacturers are working in tandem with global agencies. We are fully prepared for the roll out," he said after an all-party meeting.

UK gets ready for the roll-out of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine this week

UK is preparing to become the first country to roll out the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine this week. As per the government, the shots will be initially available at hospitals before distributing stocks to doctors' clinics, Reuters reported. Britain gave emergency use approval for the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech last week. “This coming week will be a historic moment as we begin vaccination against Covid-19," Matt Hancock, the U.K.’s health secretary, said in a statement. “We are doing everything we can to make sure we can overcome significant challenges to vaccinate care home residents."

When will Britain start vaccinating?

The first doses are set to be administered on Tuesday, with the National Health Service (NHS) giving top priority to vaccinating the over-80s, frontline healthcare workers and care home staff and residents.

Britain has ordered 40 million doses

In total, Britain has ordered 40 million doses - enough to vaccinate 20 million people in the country of 67 million. About 800,000 doses are expected to be available within the first week. Initial doses that have arrived from Belgium are being stored in secure locations across the country, where they will be quality checked, the health ministry said.