WHO gives approval to Covaxin

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WHO has granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) to India’s Covaxin.

This would mean this vaccine would be now recognised in other countries. Indians who have been vaccinated with Covaxin would not to have to quarantine or face restrictions while they travel abroad.

The Technical Advisory Group has evaluated that Covaxin meets the standards and provide effective protection against Covid 19. Bharat Biotech had published data proving that the vaccine provides 78 percent efficacy. They had filed an application in July to WHO for an approval . The approval had long been pending and had affected a lot of Indians.

The approval has the following points:

  • The vaccine can be used for all the adults above 18 years of age. It would be administered in a two dosage system, the difference between two doses being four weeks.
  • The safety of the vaccine in pregnant women is still under study, the data is insufficient to determine the safety.
  • The vaccine has an efficacy of 78 percent against all forms of covid, 14 days after the administration of the vaccine.

The vaccine has been showing good results in India. The vaccine has less storage issues as compared to Covishield . The production has not been significant though. Covaxin accounts for 10 percent of the total vaccines administered in India.

This is a welcome move that is going to benefit a lot of Indians.