WHO approval for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin likely in mid-August

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The WHO is expected to take a decision by the second week of August on giving its approval to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin vaccine which is being widely used in India’s inoculation campaign against Covid-19, the UN health agency’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said on Thursday.</p>
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Once the WHO gives its nod more countries will accept the vaccine enabling easier international travel for those who have been inoculated with Covaxin.</p>
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Bharat Biotech has been producing 10 million doses a month of Covaxin for India’s vaccination drive and is now stepping up production of the shots with its second factory in Bengaluru planning to produce the vaccine. Besides, some public sector companies have also been asked to start production of the doses amid the acute shortage of vaccines worldwide.</p>
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Covaxin is India’s first home-made vaccine developed with the help of the Indian Council of Medical research and the Indian Institute of Virology.</p>
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<strong>Also read: </strong> <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/seven-eu-countries-switzerland-accept-covishield-for-green-travel-pass-99282.html">Seven EU countries, Switzerland accept Covishield for green travel pass</a></p>
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Swaminathan also said on<em> NDTV </em>that the Delta Plus variant of the coronavirus is not presently a "variant of concern" for the World Health Organisation and its infection numbers are still low.</p>
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The Delta plus variant, a new mutant version of the Delta strain first etected in India was classified as a "variant of concern" by the government last month as it warned states to be on guard.</p>
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Swaminathan said there was "no logic" for some nations blocking Covishield from their vaccine passport programme, which will allow hassle-free travel during the pandemic.</p>
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<strong>Also read: </strong> <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/health-news/zydus-seeks-govt-nod-for-use-of-new-india-made-vaccine-as-trials-have-been-completed-99201.html">Zydus seeks govt nod for use of new India-made vaccine as trials have been completed</a></p>
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"This was done mostly on a technicality since the AstraZeneca vaccine is available under a different brand in Europe," she added</p>
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<strong>COVAX stand on green passports</strong></p>
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Meanwhile, COVAX, the WHO-led initiative to distribute vaccines to poor countries, on Thursday urged all national regional and local government authorities to recognise as fully vaccinated all people who have received COVID-19 vaccines that have been deemed safe and effective by the World Health Organization and/or the 11 Stringent Regulatory Authorities approved for COVID-19 vaccines, when making decisions on who is able to travel or attend events.</p>
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Any measure that only allows people protected by a subset of WHO-approved vaccines to benefit from the re-opening of travel into and with that region would effectively create a two- ier system, further widening the global vaccine divide and exacerbating the inequities we have already seen in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. It would negatively impact the growth of economies that are already suffering the most, the COVAX statement said.</p>
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Such moves are already undermining confidence in life-saving vaccines that have already been shown to be safe and effective, affecting uptake of vaccines and potentially putting billions of people at risk. At a time when the world is trying to resume trade, commerce and travel, this is counter-effective, both in spirit and outcome, the statement added.</p>
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