India’s COVAXIN, the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured indigenously by Bharat Biotech’ has been approved by Australian authorities for travel. Covaxin is already approved in nine other countries. However, WHO approval is still awaited.
Interestingly, almost all currently approved COVID-19 vaccines in the world are either mRNA vaccine or genetically engineered adenovirus vector DNA vaccine which are based on concepts and technologies that have never been used on human beings in the past.
Covaxin, on the other hand is an inactivated vaccines based on time tested traditional vaccine manufacturing technology that had stood the test of time for more than half a century and played key role in control and eradication of many infectious diseases.
Approval of Covaxin by WHO is in progress. Apparently, Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL) has sought additional information from the manufacturer. As per information available on the website about status of COVID-19 vaccines within WHO EUL/prequalification evaluation process, the assessment is ongoing as on 20 October 2021.
It is opined that WHO approval of Covaxin would help several countries in Asia and Africa.
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