New Delhi, March 3 -- India's apex drug regulator has approved the third phase of clinical trials for the country's first combined covid-19 and influenza vaccine from Serum Institute of India (SII), according to two government officials and documents reviewed by Mint.

In what is being viewed as a shot in the arm for India's healthcare playbook, a panel of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has recommended that SII proceed with advanced Phase III clinical trials for its vaccine-Trivalent Nanoparticle Influenza (tNIV) Vaccine and Covid Trivalent Influenza Combination (CIC) Vaccine-that targets both covid and influenza in a single dose.

"By combining protection against the seasonal flu and covid-19 into one shot, healt...