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Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Balram Bhargava, during meeting on Wednesday, told a parliamentary panel that two vaccines, which have completed phase II trials, may get emergency authorization if the government decides to do so. 

Bhargava, during the meeting, told the panel that while Covaxin? by Bharat Biotech and ZyCOV-D by Zydus Cadila have completed phase II trials, Serum Institute of India’s vaccine in partnership with University of Oxford and AstraZeneca is all set start phase II trial. 

As per a report in PTI, an MP, who was present during the meeting, quoted Bhargava saying that normally PTI as saying that normally the final trial takes about six to nine months but if the government decides, an emergency authorization could be considered. 

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Speaking about the COVID-19 vaccines in India while addressing the country on Independence Day, PM Narendra Modi had said: I want to tell people, the talent of our scientists is like that of ‘rishi munis’ and they are working very hard in laboratories. Three vaccines are in various stages of testing. When scientists will give us the green signal, it will be produced on a mass scale and all preparations have been made for it.