Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine launched in Indian market, Pfizer to follow, reveals Govt

The Union Government on Tuesday announced the launch of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine in the Indian market and will be the fourth in line to help fight the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, and iterated the focus will now shift to Pfizer vaccine.

In a press conference, NITI Aayog’s member of health, VK Paul said, “New drug permission has been granted to Moderna, the first internationally developed vaccine. This new drug permission is for restricted use.” Paul said Moderna will be administered in two doses.

Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine is the fourth one in India following AstraZeneca’s Covishield, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, and Russian vaccine Sputnik V. The officials said the country is now focusing on the Pfizer vaccine.

On Tuesday, Paul said, “There are four vaccines now Covaxin, Covishield, SputnikV and Moderna. We will soon close the deal on Pfizer as well.”

Cipla Ltd on Tuesday got approval from Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the import of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Moderna Inc for limited utilization. On June 28, Cipla had filed an application to DCGI for the import of the vaccines.

As of now, India has administered 323.9 million doses, the third in the world following the United States and China. According to the health ministry officials on Tuesday, 13.8 crore people, which is 49 % of the people above 60 years have received the first dose.

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