Serum Institute of India (SII) has applied for the Indian drug regulator’s approval for use of Covishield as a booster dose stating that there are adequate stocks of the vaccine in the country. The company also cited a demand for a booster dose because of the emergence of new variants, stated official sources.

Prakash Kumar Singh, the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at SII, stated in an application to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) that the UK′s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has already granted approval to the booster dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Singh is reported to have said in the application that there is no shortage of Covishield in India and the demand for a booster dose has been increasing among people who have received two vaccine doses considering the ongoing pandemic situation and emergence of new variants… (ET Healthworld – PTI, December 2, 2021)