The Government has approved two more Covid vaccines and an anti-viral drug for use in India. The approvals will give a major boost to India's massive vaccination drive against coronavirus.

Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has given emergency use authorization approval to COVID-19 vaccines Covovax and Corbevax and Anti-viral drug Molnupiravir.

"CORBEVAX vaccine is India's 1st indigenously developed RBD protein sub-unit vaccine against #COVID19, Made by Hyderabad-based firm Biological-E. It's a hat-trick! It's now 3rd vaccine developed in India!" Mandaviya said.

Covovax, the Nanoparticle Vaccine, will be manufactured by Pune-based firm Serum Institute of India (SII). The Serum Institute is currently producing Covishield vaccine.

Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug, will now be manufactured in the country by 13 companies for restricted use under emergency situation for treatment of adult patients with COVID-19 and who have high risk of progression of the disease, Mandaviya said.