The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted permission to Mumbai-based pharma company Cipla to import Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for restricted emergency use in the country, official sources said on Tuesday.
The vaccine can be granted marketing authorization without bridging trial and assessment of safety data of first 100 beneficiaries of vaccines shall be submitted before rolling out en masse for the immunization programmes.
The Moderna vaccine is the fourth vaccine in the country to be given the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA).
India is also in conversation with Pfizer and JJ to add to the basket of vaccines available in India, per a statement by the Health Ministry.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Moderna vaccine, which is an mRNA vaccine, has shown to approximately 94.1% efficacy, starting 14 days after the first dose.
The WHO adds that based on evidence collected so far, the emerged new variants do not affect this efficacy rate.
51 cases of the new Delta Plus variant have been reported across India thus far as various states look to unlock restrictions in their major cities. Though there is no scientific data so far to establish that the new strain reduces the efficacy of vaccines, Covid Task Force chief VK Paul has said, those fully vaccinated have been advised to continue COVID-appropriate behaviour.