On Dec. 7, 2020, the Serum Institute of India (SII) announced that it had applied to Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine Covishield. The Pune-based company collaborated with Oxford University and Astra Zeneca in making the vaccine and conducting trials in India.

Pfizer India previously applied to India’s drug regulator DCGI for emergency-use authorisation for its COVID-19 vaccine, after the company’s parent received clearance for the treatment from Britain and Bahrain.