The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has emerged as a frontrunner in the race of COVID vaccines. It is dubbed Covishield in India. The vaccine is reportedly likely to receive approval in India by next week.

India is likely to approve the first COVID-19 vaccine in the country for emergency use. The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine candidate, being tested and produced by the Serum Institute of India, Pune, is likely to receive approvals for emergency use by next week. SII has submitted the additional data sought by authorities, news agency Reuters reported.

Not only will this be India's first COVID-19 vaccine if approvals are received, but India will also be the first country globally to give a green light to the said vaccine. The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine candidate is under review in Britain as well, as experts examine data from the trials.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has emerged as a frontrunner in the race of COVID vaccines. It is dubbed Covishield in India.

Apart from the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine candidate, emergency approvals for Covaxin – India' first home-grown vaccine have also been filed for, with the DCGI. Pfizer's Indian arm has also applied for an emergency use approval.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford shot is considered vital for lower-income countries and those in hot climates because it is cheaper, easier to transport and can be stored for long periods at normal fridge temperatures, the Reuters report read.

India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) first reviewed the three applications on December 9 here sought more information from all the companies, including from Serum Institute of India (SII), which is making the AstraZeneca shots.

SII, the world's biggest vaccine manufacturer, has now provided all the data, sources have revealed. The authorities were still waiting for more details from Pfizer, and additional information was expected from Bharat Biotech.

Both sources said Indian health officials were in direct contact with their British counterparts over the AstraZeneca shot and that there were “strong indications” an approval would come by next week.

The Indian regulator is only considering the two full-dose regimen of the shot despite it showing a lower success rate, the sources said.

“Serum is ready,” said one of the sources. “Initially, we may get around 50 million to 60 million doses,” Reuters reported.