Johnson&Johnson vaccine gets approval,India expands its basket

India on Saturday granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) to US drug maker Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose Covid-19 vaccine. The American pharmaceuticals company had applied to the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on August 5 seeking emergency use approval for its single-shot vaccine.The shot will be brought to India through a supply agreement with homegrown vaccine maker Biological E Limited. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.

India expands its vaccine basket!

Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is given approval for Emergency Use in India.

Now India has 5 EUA vaccines.

This will further boost our nation's collective fight against #COVID19

— Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) August 7, 2021

"We are pleased to announce that on 7th August 2021, the Government of India issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 single-dose vaccine in India, to prevent COVID in individuals 18 years of age and older," a Johnson & Johnson India spokesperson said. India has so far administered the Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik V vaccines. Mumbai-based pharmaceuticals company Cipla has also been granted approval to import the Moderna vaccine, which has shown 95 per cent efficacy against the coronavirus disease. With the latest approval of Johnson & Johnson's candidate, India has now paved the way for the first single-dose vaccine to be available for people of the country.