New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose anti-COVID-19 vaccine–Janssen–has been given approval for the emergency use in India, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Saturday.

“India expands its vaccine basket! Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is given approval for Emergency Use in India. Now India has 5 EUA vaccines (sic),” Mr Mandaviya tweeted.

With this, Johnson and Johnson’s has become the fifth vaccine after AstraZeneca’s Covidshield, indigenous Covaxin, Russia’s Sputnik and US’s Moderna to get the emergency approval.

“We are pleased to announce that on 7th August 2021, the Government of India issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Johnson & Johnson #COVID19 single-dose vaccine in India, to prevent COVID in individuals 18 years of age and older,” Johnson & Johnson tweeted.

The pharma company has applied for the emergency authorisation on Thursday.

As per the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, J&J’s vaccine is 66.3 per cent effective in Covid infection and gives the most protection two weeks after inoculation.

The company has claimed that its vaccine is nearly 85 per cent effective against severe or critical disease and demonstrates protection against hospitalisation and death. In India, J&J has tied up with Hyderabad-based Biological E for the global supply chain network. It received the emergency authorisation in the US in February this year.

UNI