Bharat Biotech’s booster nasal vaccine to be available on CoWIN from today

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The Union Health Ministry has given approval to Bharat Biotech's intranasal Covid vaccine for inclusion in the vaccination programme as a booster dose for those above 18 years of age, official sources said. The needle-free vaccine will be available at private vaccination centres.

The approval for the vaccine comes amid a spurt in Covid cases in China and some other countries. "The needle-free vaccine will be introduced on the Co-WIN platform on Friday evening," they said.

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The nasal vaccine -- BBV154 -- received approval of the Drugs Controller General of India in November for restricted use in an emergency situation for those above 18 as a heterologous booster dose.

(with inputs from PTI)