After months of waiting, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday said it has granted emergency use listing (EUL) to Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin.
The Technical Advisory Group, convened by WHO and made up of regulatory experts from around the world, has determined that the #Covaxin vaccine meets WHO standards for protection against #COVID19, that the benefit of the vaccine far outweighs risks & the vaccine can be used 🌍.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 3, 2021
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG), an independent advisory committee of WHO, recommended EUL status for Covaxin.
‘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 COVID-19,’ the global health body said in a tweet.
Dr Poonam Khetarpal Singh, Regional Director of WHO South East Asia, in a tweet, said, ‘Congratulations India for Emergency Use Listing of its indigenously produced COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin.’ ‘The Technical Advisory Group of WHO has recommended Emergency Use Listing status for Covaxin,’ a source told PTI before the WHO announcement.
On October 26, the TAG had sought ‘additional clarifications’ from the company for Covaxin to conduct a final ‘risk-benefit assessment’ for Emergency Use Listing of the vaccine which was seen by many as a delibrate tactic to ensure this drug is not used internationally.
However, after the Australian government gave its clearance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the G20 summit recently the approval from WHO granting Covaxin EUL was not surprising.
As per data provided by Bharat Biotech, Covaxin has demonstrated 77.8 per cent effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 and 65.2 per cent protection against the new Delta variant.
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