Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded the decision of the drug regulator approving the two covid-19 vaccines today and said it would make every Indian proud that the two were "made in India".
A tweet by the prime minister says, "It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion.”
Drug Controller General of India, VG Somani gave emergency approval to Serum Institute’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin coronavirus vaccine. The two firms submitted data on their trial runs and have been granted permission for "restricted use", Mr Somani told reporters today in New Delhi.
"We reiterate our gratitude to doctors, medical staff, scientists, police personnel, sanitation workers and all Corona warriors for the outstanding work done, that too in adverse circumstances. We will remain eternally grateful to them for saving many lives," the Prime Minister tweeted.
Calling this advancement as a "decisive turning point", PM Modi said this will accelerate the road to a healthier and Coronavirus free country.
Over the past few months, PM Modi has remained engaged in the vaccine development process and in November, he had personally visited the vaccine producing centre’s across the country to check the status of the vaccines.
Also Read: DCGI approves Serum Institute’s ‘Covishield’ & Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin' for emergency use
India is preparing to roll out the vaccines while hit by a new covid strain that has been evolved in the UK in September 2020, which led to a temporary ban on flights from the nation.
The Indian Council of Medical Research, on Saturday, said that India has successfully cultured the new coronavirus variant, claiming that no other country had yet reported the successful isolation and culture of the UK-variant.