Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine has been given approval for emergency use in India. It is the third foreign-made vaccine to get Emergency Use Authorisation in India after the US's Moderna and Russia's Sputnik V.
Announcing the news on Twitter, the Health Minister said India now has five emergency use authorization (EUA) vaccines, adding that this will further boost the nation's collective fight against coronavirus.
"India expands its vaccine basket! Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is given approval for Emergency Use in India. Now India has 5 EUA vaccines. This will further boost our nation's collective fight against #COVID-19," he tweeted.
J&J had asked for authorisation after data from its Phase 3 trials said its single-dose COVID shot is 85.4% effective in preventing severe disease across all regions studied. It also showed protection of 93.1% against COVID-19 related hospitalisation and death, 28 days from vaccination.
"Biological E will be an important part of our global supply chain network, helping to supply our Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine through the extensive collaborations and partnerships we have with governments, health authorities and organisations such as Gavi and the COVAX Facility," Johnson and Johnson said in a statement.
