Bangalore — India is the second most populous country in the world against the potential for a surge in coronavirus cases due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, with Merck’s COVID-19 pill and two vaccines for emergency use. Approved as a brace.
Asia’s third-largest economy has already stated that it will allow COVID-19 booster shots for some populations as some Indian states have recorded rises in Omicron cases.
Urgent approval is given when measures are being taken to increase oxygen supply and strengthen the country’s health infrastructure.
Molnupiravir is manufactured in India by 13 companies for limited use in emergencies for the treatment of adult patients with COVID-19, State Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday.
Merck’s antiviral drug molnupiravir was approved in the United States last week for certain high-risk adult patients, and clinical trials have shown a reduction in hospitalization and mortality by approximately 30%.
Earlier this year, Aurobindo Pharma, Cipla, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and some others signed a non-exclusive voluntary license agreement with Merck to manufacture and supply molnupiravir in India.
Two other COVID-19 vaccines, a shot from Novavax Inc of the Serum Institute of India, Covovax, and Corbevax from homemade pharmaceutical company Biological E have also been granted emergency use permits, Mandaviya said on Twitter.
Medical experts say India needs to double its vaccine campaign, and in some states on New Year’s celebrations to prevent a surge in infections and a catastrophic second wave of summer 2021. We are imposing a curfew and other restrictions on this. The infectious disease killed tens of thousands.
So far, vaccination activities in this country have been dominated by the domestically produced version of AstraZeneca COVID-19 taken by the Serum Institute and the inactivated vaccine Covaxin of Barrat Biotech.
India has received 1.43 billion COVID-19 vaccines so far, and 62% of the eligible population is vaccinated with both vaccines. The country plans to start vaccination of people aged 15-18 years from January 3rd.
Candini Monnappa
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