DCGI approves Phase II+III trials of Oxford University vaccine by Serum Institute

New Delhi: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given approval to Serum Institute of India, Pune to conduct Phase II and III clinical trials of Oxford University-Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine (COVISHIELD) in the country. This will hasten the development of the Covid-19 vaccine, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a release here.India has seen more than 40,574 patients recovered in the past 24 hours taking the total recoveries to 11,86,203 and Recovery Rate to 65.77 per cent among Covid-19 patients.Despite a sharp spike in infections, India continues to improve the Case Fatality Rate (CFR), and maintain its global position of having one of the lowest Covid fatality rates at 2.11 per cent on Monday.

This is the outcome of the well-conceived and effectively implemented strategy of “Test, Track and Treat” which has guided the COVID management in the country.The management strategy of Covid-19 also focuses on early detection and isolation of cases with seamless patient management and prioritising care of the high-risk population using field health care workers leading to increase in recoveries across the country. With improving daily recovery number, the gap between the recovered and active cases has increased to more than 6 lakh and at present stands at 6,06,846. This means the actual active case load is 5,79,357 and all are under medical supervision.Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has issued revised guidelines for international arrivals in supersession of the guidelines issued on the subject dated May 24, 2020. They will be operational from midnight August 8, 2020.