Australia adds Bharat Biotech's Covaxin to list of 'recognized' vaccines
The TGA of the ministry of health of the Australian government, in a statement, said, “Covaxin would be ‘recognized’ for the purpose of establishing a traveler’s vaccination status.”
By Newsmeter Network Published on 1 Nov 2021 4:14 PM IST
Hyderabad: Australia on Monday recognized Covaxin, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, in a major relief to Indian travelers. The Therapeutic Goods Administration of the ministry of health of the Australian government, in a statement, said, "Covaxin would be 'recognized' for the purpose of establishing a traveler's vaccination status."
It has also recognized BBIBP-CorV manufactured by Sinopharm, China. "The recognition is for travelers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV," it said.
It said that the TGA has in recent weeks "obtained additional information demonstrating these vaccines provide protection and potentially reduce the likelihood that an incoming traveler would transmit COVID-19 infection to others while in Australia or become acutely unwell due to COVID-19". It said the "supporting information has been provided to the TGA from the vaccine sponsor and/or the World Health Organization".
WHO has yet to give emergency use authorization to Covaxin.
The TGA also said "recognition of Covaxin and BBIBP-CorV, along with the previously announced recognition of Coronavac (manufactured by Sinovac, China) and Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca, India), means many citizens of China and India, as well as other countries in our region where these vaccines have been widely deployed, will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia".
The development will facilitate the return of international students to Australia and the travel of skilled and unskilled workers to the country.
TGA also said that those who have received two doses of a TGA-approved or recognized vaccine at least 14 days apart are regarded as fully vaccinated from seven days after the second dose with the exception of Janssen vaccine where they are regarded as fully vaccinated seven days after the single dose. This includes homologous (two doses of the same vaccine) and heterologous (two doses of two different TGA-approved or recognized vaccines) schedules, it added.
