NEW DELHI: AIIMS director Dr. Randeep Guleria on Sunday said that Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, a potential vaccine against COVID-19, will be used only when there is a surge in COVID cases in the country. He also said that Serum Insitute's Covishield will be given in the first phase of the vaccination drive.

"In an emergency situation when there is a sudden increase in cases and we need to vaccinate, Bharat Biotech vaccine will be used. It can also be used as a backup when we're not sure how efficacious the Serum Institute vaccine is going to be," Guleria said.

Initially, the Serum Institute's vaccine will be given. They already have 50 million doses available and they will be able to give that in the initial phase where we will vaccinate around three crore people, he added.

Dr. Guleria's statements came after the Drug Controller General approved the Covishield and Covaxin vaccines for emergency use in the country.