Covid Booster Shots In India? SII Seeks DCGI's Approval For Covishield Booster Dose

In an application to the DCGI, SII cites that there is adequate stock of the covid vaccine in the country now and a demand for a booster shot is there due to the emergence of new coronavirus variants.

A health worker holds a vial the Covishield, AstraZeneca-Oxford's Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine, at a vaccination centre in Mumbai on April 1, 2021. | AFP

New Delhi: India is aggressively reaching towards its goal of getting the entire adult population vaccinated against Covid-19, the conversation is on about booster or additional doses to be administered.

Taking a step in that direction Serum Institute of India (SII) has sought Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approval for Covishield as a booster dose.

In an application to the DCGI, SII cites that there is adequate stock of the covid vaccine in the country now and a demand for a booster shot is there due to the emergence of new coronavirus variants.

Prakash Kumar Singh, the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at SII states "the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has already approved the booster dose of AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine."

"People of our country, as well as citizens of other countries who have already been fully vaccinated with two doses of Covishield, are also continuously requesting our firm for booster dose," PTI quoted Singh as having said in the application on Tuesday.

PTI reports, SII's application to DGCI states "that as the world continues to face the pandemic situation, many countries have started administering a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines."

The Union government has informed Parliament that the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 are deliberating and considering scientific evidence for the need and justification for a booster dose.

Meanwhile, Delhi High Court on November 25 directed the Centre to clarify its stand on administering booster doses to those who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

(With PTI Inputs)