New Delhi, Jan 3: World Health Organization South-East Asia Region’s Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh on Sunday said that the global health body has welcomed India’s decision to give emergency use authorization to COVID-19 vaccines.
“WHO welcomes the first emergency use authorization given to COVID-19 vaccine in the WHO-South East Asia region”, Dr Singh said.
Hailing India’s decision, she further said that it will help intensify and strenghthen the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the region.
“The use of vaccine in prioritized populations, along with continued implementation of other public health measures and community participation, will be important in reducing impact of COVID-19”, Dr Singh averred.
The country’s drug regulator, earlier in the day, approved the emergency use of Bharat Biotech’s indigenously manufactured Corona vaccine ‘Covaxin’ and ‘Covishield’ manufactured by Serum Institute of India, Pune.