Covaxin approval from WHO will boost travel

MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that 96 countries had either accepted WHO-approved vaccines, which would include both Covishield and Covaxin, or in some cases only Covishield or Covaxin

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The WHO’s approval to Covaxin will ease travel for vaccinated Indians. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India was also taking up with countries that are issuing separate orders for individual vaccines to recognise the Bharat Biotech-manufactured Covid-19 jab. MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that 96 countries had either accepted WHO-approved vaccines, which would include both Covishield and Covaxin, or in some cases only Covishield or Covaxin.

“But we hope that with the WHO approval to Covaxin, this list will be enlarged and all 96 or more countries will accept both vaccines. I think that is a significant improvement in the ease of travel of vaccinated Indians abroad,” he said.

Some countries had issued individual orders for individual vaccines and they perhaps need to issue separate orders for approving Covaxin

The new revised guidelines for entry into India broadly sticks to the same nomenclature, he said. Bagchi said the countries that either acknowledge WHO-approved vaccines and those that accept our vaccines are on that list of Category A.

He said 96 countries had accepted WHO-approved vaccines or have recognised our vaccines. “In a significant development, India developed and produced Covaxin was accorded the emergency use licencing by World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier this month on November 3. This should ease international travel of those vaccinated with Covaxin. Many countries already recognise 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 approving Covaxin, he said, adding that India was taking up the matter with those countries. Some countries have also accorded on their own national regulatory clearance to Covaxin.

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