COVID-19 vaccine by AstraZeneca to receive Swiss approval by this month: Report

Switzerland authorities could grant approval to COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford as early as this month, reported NZZ newspaper on January 16 citing two unnamed sources familiar with matter. As per report, watchdog Swissmedic is planning a meeting at end of this month to sign an agreement regarding jabs in European nation. Swiss regulators have alrey approved COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

paper quoted Swissmedic spokesperson saying that if everything proceeds in an “exemplary manner” and authorities receive required data soon, next approval decision can arrive “very quickly”. However, person did t give a definitive date. Meanwhile, Switzerland h alrey ordered at least 15 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in total after assigning at least $449 million for jabs.

intense global demand for vaccine doses amid COVID-19 pandemic and limited production has furr restricted circulation of doses. But Swiss government has reportedly said that country’s 8.6 million citizens will be immunised for free by mid-2021.

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India vaccinates 1,65,714 people

Meanwhile, as India kickstarted its vaccination programme on January 16, Health Ministry in a statement said that at least 1,65,714 people received first doses of COVID-19 vaccines and post-vaccination hospitalisation have been reported till w. first person in India to receive jab was sanitation worker Manish Kumar after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched vaccination drive. Kumar received his shot at capital’s All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) which is one of 3,006 vaccination centres across country. 

During launch, PM Modi said, "rmally, it takes many years to make a vaccine but in such a short span of time, t one, but two 'Me in India' vaccines are rey. Meanwhile, work on or vaccines is progressing at a fast pace. This is a living example of India's capability and talent. India's vaccination programme is based on a very important principle that those who are in need of vaccine will get vaccinated first. Our doctors, nurses, medical & paramedical staff, sanitation workers in hospitals - be it private or hospital are entitled to get vaccinated. This will be done on priority.”

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