New Delhi : India on Thursday claimed that the WHO’s nod to Covaxin would help smoothen international travel for those vaccinated with the Bharat Biotech’s jab, and that it is taking up the matter of getting approval for Covaxin with those countries that have been issuing orders for individual vaccines.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that many countries already recognise WHO-approved vaccines, and with Covaxin joining this list, that would become an automatic approval for the jab.
“In a significant development India produced and developed vaccine Covaxin was accorded Emergency Use Licensing by the WHO on November 3.
“We feel this should ease international travel of those vaccinated with Covaxin. Many countries already recognize WHO-approved vaccines, and now with Covaxin joining this list, that should become automatic.
“Some countries had issued individual orders for individual vaccines, and they perhaps need to issue separate orders for Covaxin; and we are taking up the matter with those countries,” he added.
He said some countries accorded on their own, national regulatory clearance to Covaxin.
He said that 96 countries have either accepted WHO vaccines which would include Covishield and Covaxin, or in some cases either Covishield or Covaxin; “but we hope with Covaxin having got WHO approval this list will go up and all 96 or more countries will accept both our vaccines.”
He also said that India has resumed vaccine supply overseas.
“Keeping in mind our domestic requirement of vaccines, we have resumed our overseas supply of India-made vaccines; some shipments have already taken place, while others are in the pipeline, including through the Covax facility.”
