Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine gets approval in India

India has granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) to US drug maker Johnson & Johnson's single-dose Covid-19 vaccine, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday.

"Johnson and Johnson's single-dose Covid-19 vaccine is given approval for Emergency Use in India. Now India has 5 EUA vaccines. This will further boost our nation's collective fight against COVID-19," Mansukh Mandaviya said in a tweet.

In a statement, Johnson & Johnson said this is an important step forward in accelerating the availability of their Covid-19 vaccine to help end the pandemic.

"We are pleased to announce that on August 7, 2021, the Government of India issued Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 single-dose vaccine in India, to prevent Covid-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older," Johnson & Johnson's India spokesperson said in a statement.

So far, four vaccines have been given Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) in India - AstraZeneca's Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V and Moderna.

On August 5, Johnson & Johnson applied for Emergency Use Authorisation for its single-dose Covid vaccine in India. The US drug major claims that its vaccine, in clinical trials, proved to be 85 per cent effective in preventing severe disease. The vaccine also showed protection against the Delta variant and other emerging strains.

Johnson & Johnson further said Biological E will be an important part of its global supply chain network. In February 2021, the US FDA authorised Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use.