Booster Jab Soob? SII Seeks Approval from DCGI

New Delhi: Vaccine maker Serum Institute of India on Tuesday has sought an approval by the Drug regulator to introduce COVISHIELD Booster doses amidst the scare attributed to the South African variant. SII quotes to poses adequate stock to initiate the booster dose program, officials reported. It should be noted that SII is the first vaccine maker in India to approach for booster dose.

In an application to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), Prakash Kumar Singh, the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII) illustrated the approval of booster doses of AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, UK.

It is learnt that Singh cited the administration of booster dose across countries as the pandemic counties to worsen. “People of our country as well as citizens of other countries, who have already been fully vaccinated with two doses of Covishield, are also continuously requesting our firm for booster dose,” an official source quoted as written by Singh. “The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 are deliberating and considering scientific evidence for the need and justification for a booster dose, said Centre to the Parliament in response to the application. “

The SC on November 25, directed centre to present its stand on the administration of booster shots as it asserted to prevent a second wave like situation. Moreover, several state authorities have written to the centre urging approval for booster shots amidst the concerns raised by the new variant, officials stated.