Vials with COVID-19 Vaccine stickers attached and syringes with the logo of US pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German partner BioNTech. (Photo: AFP)

New Delhi, December 7 (RHC)-- Pfizer India has become the first pharmaceutical firm to seek an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in India, which has the second highest number of coronavirus infections.

“Pfizer India has submitted an application to the DCGI seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine in India,” Indian media reported, referring to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).  “Pfizer India has sought permission for emergency usage authorization of its COVID-19 from DGCI to import and market,” an official was quoted as saying.

Pfizer India is a subsidiary of the parent company Pfizer Inc., an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation based in New York.

The United Kingdom on Wednesday became the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, with the UK regulator Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granting a temporary authorization for its emergency use.

India has reported more 9.57 million COVID–19 cases, behind only the United States, with nearly 140,000 deaths.