On Wednesday, November 3, 2021, WHO granted Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for emergency use listing (EUL) to prevent Covid-19. Covaxin has demonstrated about 78 percent effectiveness against the symptomatic Covid-19 and about 65 percent protection against the emerging Delta variant. In June, the company said it concluded the vaccine’s efficacy from its Phase 3 trials.
? WHO has granted emergency use listing (EUL) to #COVAXIN® (developed by Bharat Biotech), adding to a growing portfolio of vaccines validated by WHO for the prevention of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/dp2A1knGtT
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 3, 2021
Clearance from WHO
The clearance from WHO is a significant step for the Covaxin acceptance by foreign governments. This approval will remove the uncertainty around overseas travel by Indians jabbed with this vaccine. Moreover, EUL is also imperative for a vaccine to be supplied through COVAX, the global Covid vaccine equity scheme.
What does Emergency Use Listing (EUL) mean?
The WHO emergency use listing is a process for assessing the unlicensed vaccines, therapeutics, and in vitro diagnostics during some public health emergencies, with an eventual goal of facilitating the availability of these products to people who need them. Covaxin is one of those six vaccines that have received emergency use authorization from India’s drug regulator. This is being used in the nationwide vaccination program and two other vaccines like Covishield and Sputnik V. Besides Covin, Who has approved some other vaccines like Pfizer, Moderna, BioNTech, Johnson&Johnson, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca.
Importance of approval by WHO
The WHO’s approval will hold importance for all vaccinated citizens with Covaxin and facilitate their international travels. This delay has impacted several students and business people who wanted to travel to countries where a vaccination certificate for the WHO-approved vaccines is mandatory. The Regional Director of WHO for South-East Asia, Dr. Poonam Singh, also congratulated India for the EUL of Covaxin. This approval will also increase the export of the vaccine to other countries. The Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called it a win for Atmanirbhar Bharat and PM Modi’s goodwill and determination.
यह समर्थ नेतृत्व की निशानी है,
यह मोदी जी के संकल्प की कहानी है,
यह देशवासियों के विश्वास की ज़ुबानी है,
यह आत्मनिर्भर भारत की दिवाली है।Thanking @WHO for granting emergency use listing ( EUL) to Made-in-India #Covaxin
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) November 3, 2021
Countries that already approved Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin
On November 1, 2021, Australia recognized Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. This recognition is meant for travelers aged 12 and above who have been vaccinated with Covaxin. BesidesAustralia, countries like Oman, Greece, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Estonia, the Philippines, and Iran are the countries that have already recognized Covaxin.
