The government has granted approval to Bharat Biotech’s nasal Covid vaccine, Health and Family Welfare Welfare Minister Mansukh Madaviya announced here on Friday.
The needle-free vaccine, which was approved yesterday, would also acts as precaution dose, he said at a function.
According to sources in the Health Ministry, the nasal vaccine has been approved for those aged above 18 years. It said the vaccine would be available in private hospitals in the initial phase.
The nasal vaccine BBV154 had received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India in November for restricted use in an emergency situation for those above 18 as a heterologous booster dose.
The approval for the vaccine comes amid a spurt in Covid cases in China and some other countries around the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday held a high-level meeting to review the situation in view of a worrisome situation in countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and the United States.
He made an appeal to the people to follow Covid appropriate behavior at all times, especially in view of the upcoming festive season, including wearing masks in crowded public places. He also stated that precautionary dose may be encouraged, especially for vulnerable and elderly groups.
Meanwhile, India reported 163 fresh Covid-19 cases along with nine deaths have also been reported in the country. The number of active coronavirus cases declined to 3,380.