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A third coronavirus vaccine has been approved for use in India amid a deadly second wave of infections.
Russia's Sputnik V has been deemed to be safe, and works in a way similar to the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab which is being made in India as Covishield.
Sputnik V gives around 92% protection against Covid-19,
late stage trial results published in The Lancet reveal.
...On Tuesday the government decided to give emergency approvals to vaccines already in use in other countries. It said the decision was taken to "expand the basket of vaccines for domestic use and hasten the pace and coverage of vaccination".
It added that vaccines that have been approved by regulators in the US, the UK, European Union and Japan would be given fast-track approvals in India. The health ministry added that the first 100 recipients of such vaccines would be monitored for seven days before wider rollout is allowed.
This means that vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna could become available for Indians.
Both Covaxin and Corbevax are already being administered to children above 12 years.
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