Covid-19 vaccine: Govt approves emergency use of Covishield

The government today gave permission to Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited for emergency use of Covishield -- the Indian version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine.

Under the authorisation, Beximco Pharmaceuticals will be able to import and distribute the vaccines to the country's private and public organisations.

Md Salauddin, deputy director of the Directorate General of Drug Administration told The Daily Star, "With this emergency use authorisation, they can supply the vaccine to the government as well as private hospitals, or any vaccination programme."

Earlier today, the 14-member emergency expert committee recommended the emergency approval in a meeting held at the DGDA.

"As the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the UK approved this vaccine for emergency use, we have also given same approval," Md Salauddin said.