Briefing the media on Sunday, Drugs Controller General of India VG Somani informed that permission has been granted to the vaccines of Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech for restricted use in an emergency situation.

“The vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations,” Somani, said at the press conference.

Notably, SII has developed ‘Covishield’ in collaboration with the University of Oxford and US pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca whereas Bharat Biotech has developed ‘Covaxin’ in collaboration with ICMR and National Institute of Virology.

Congratulating the country on the emergency approval of these vaccines, prime minister Narendra Modi said that the decision “is the road to a healthier and COVID-free nation.”

“A decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight! DCGI granting approval to vaccines of Serum Institue of India & Bharat Biotech accelerates the road to healthier and COVID-free nation. Congratulations India. Congratulations to our hardworking scientists & innovators,” PM Modi tweeted.

“It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion,” he added.

“We reiterate our gratitude to doctors, medical staff, scientists, police personnel, sanitation workers and all Corona warriors for the outstanding work done, that too in adverse circumstances. We will remain eternally grateful to them for saving many lives,” the prime minister said.

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, also welcomed India’s authorisation.   

“World Health Organization welcomes India’s decision giving emergency use authorisation to COVID-19 vaccines,” Singh said. 

Addressing the rumours about vaccines harming one’s body, Somani said that these talks are “absolute rubbish”.

“We’ll never approve anything if there’s slightest of safety concern. Vaccines are 110 % safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain & allergy are common for every vaccine. It (that people may get impotent) is absolute rubbish,” he said.

The approval is expected to kick off one of the world’s biggest vaccination drives in the coming days in the country of 1.3 billion people.

India is the world’s second most-infected nation with more than 10.3 million cases and almost 150,000 deaths.