An Overview of India’s COVID-19 Vaccine Landscape
India has approved a variety of COVID-19 vaccines for use, with distinct categories for manufacturing, emergency use for primary vaccination, and booster doses. This public notice was issued on August 11, 2025.
Vaccine Samples Declared Not of Standard Quality 2017-2023
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has released a report detailing various instances of substandard vaccines identified in India over the past six years, i.e. from 2017-2023. The report identified substandard vaccines across various categories, including typhoid, tetanus, polio, and COVID-19 vaccines.
Restricted Use of iNCOVACC for Booster Vaccination Approved
CDSCO has now also approved ChAd36-SARS-CoV-S COVID-19 (Chimpanzee Adenovirus Vectored) recombinant COVID19Vaccine (iNCOVACC). This approval is extended to it as a Booster (third) dose vaccination for restricted use in emergencies. This vaccine can be administered intra-nasally.
CDSCO notifies COVID-19 vaccines approved for Manufacture for Sale or for Distribution
The CDSCO has approved COVISHIELD & COVAXIN vaccines for manufacture for sale or distribution in the country. It has also approved 15 more COVID-19 vaccines for Primary vaccination series for Restricted Use in Emergency Situation in the country.