Serum Institute seeks DCGI approval for Covishield as booster dose

New Delhi: Serum Institute of India has sought approval from the Drug Regulator of India for Covishield as a booster dose, citing sufficient stock of vaccine in the country. According to sources, the Serum Institute has told the need for a booster shot to deal with the new variant of the corona virus.

Approved in UK

In an application sent to DCGI of India, Serum Institute of India (SII) said, UK Medicines and Health Care Products Regulator has already approved the booster dose. There is a booster dose of AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. DCGI Prakash Kumar Singh was quoted as saying by an official source, "The people of our country as well as citizens of other countries who have already received both the doses of Kovishield are continuously demanding booster doses."

These states have demanded

DCGI said that it is the need of the hour and it is a matter of right to health of every person that they should not be deprived of the third dose/booster dose to protect themselves from this pandemic. Earlier, the Central Government told Parliament that the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization is considering scientific evidence of the need for booster doses. Recently, Kerala, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh have urged the Center to decide on allowing booster doses in view of the threat of a new variant 'Omicron' of SARS-CoV-2.

The court has also said this thing

On the other hand, the Delhi High Court had on November 25 directed the Center to clarify its stand on giving booster doses to those people. The court had said that it does not want a second wave-like situation, so those who have received both the doses of corono virus vaccine can be given the third dose so that the government should clear its stand in this regard.