WHO identifies counterfeit versions of Covishield in India
Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Aug, 2021 08:25 PM
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it has identified counterfeit versions of India's primary Covid vaccine, Covishield, BBC reported.
The doses were seized by authorities in India and Africa between July and August, a WHO statement said.
It also said the vaccine's maker, the Serum Institute of India, confirmed that the doses were fake.
The WHO warned that fake vaccines "pose a serious risk to global public health".
It called for their removal from circulation.
Covishield is the Indian-made version of AstraZeneca's jab and is the most widely used vaccine in India with more than 486 million doses administered so far.
Serum had supplied millions of Covishield vaccines to countries in Asia, Africa and South America - as part of deals that were inked with various governments and the global Covax scheme for poorer countries.
India, which is the second worst-affected country in the world, aims to vaccinate all its people by the end of this year.
About 13 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated since the beginning of the drive in January.
First Sikh billionaire Bob Dhillon, first Sikh CJI Justice JS Khehar, Sikh Navy chief Karambir S and rice revolutionist Dr Gurdev Khush are some of the prominent names that appear in the list of Sikhs and Guru Nanak Naam Leva personalities who are to receive an award from the state government during a function to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
A five-judge Bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, has concluded hearing in the case and a verdict is expected by November 17.
