The World Health Organisation appreciated India's decision to give emergency use authorisation to two coronavirus vaccines on Sunday said it will "help intensify and strengthen the fight against the pandemic in the region."
"The use of the vaccine in prioritised populations, along with continued implementations of other public health measures and community participation will be important in reducing the impact of COVID-19," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.
India's drugs regulator has approved the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine Covishield, which is being produced by the Serum Institute of India in Pune, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR in Hyderabad for restricted emergency use in the country.
The approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) was given based on recommendations submitted by a COVID-19 subject expert committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) paving the process for the roll-out of at least two vaccines in India in the coming days.
Minutes later the approval by DGCI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the vaccine approvals were "a decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight" that "accelerates the road to a healthier and Covid-free nation".
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The approval came a day after India observed a mock drill for a massive coronavirus vaccination drive on Saturday.
The Covid-19 dry run was carried across states and Union Territories on Saturday in preparation for a massive vaccination drive, with Health Minister Harsh Vardhan rejecting all rumours on the vaccines, urged the citizens to not be misguided or confused by rumours and disinformation regarding the safety and efficacy of the covid vaccine.