Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin to be added to UK’s approved list from November 22

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Indian travellers who are vaccinated with Covaxin will be eligible to travel to the UK from November 22 as the country recently announced it would recognise Covid-19 vaccines listed in World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing.

With this, those inoculated with the Bharat Biotech vaccine will not need to isolate themselves after arriving in England. The new rules will take effect at 4 am on November 22.

Earlier in October, Britain also approved the Covishield vaccine, another India produced Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 easing the international travels for Indians.

Taking the news on Twitter, British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis said, “More good news for Indian travellers to the UK. From 22 November travellers fully vaccinated with a COVID19 vaccine recognised by WHO for Emergency Use Listing, including Covaxin, will not have to self-isolate; so joining those fully vaccinated with Covishield.”

Covaxin receives approval worldwide

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin received World Health Organisation’s approval on 3 November for emergency use listing. The technical advisory team of WHO has now recommended the India-made vaccine for emergency use listing for 18 years and above.

Covaxin is India’s indigenously developed, completely ‘made in India’, vaccine by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research. Therefore, the recent approval marks a major victory for India’s journey in vaccination against Covid-19.

The World Health Organisation’s panel had last week sought additional clarifications from Bharat Biotech while reviewing the Covaxin. So far, Covaxin has demonstrated 77.8 per cent effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 and 65.2 per cent protection against the new Delta variant of coronavirus disease.

Due to WHO’s approval, the emergency use listing of Covaxin will open the door of many countries for Indians who are vaccinated with this vaccine.

Infact, many countries like Malaysia, Guyana, Iran, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Paraguay, the Philipines, Zimbabwe, Australia, Oman, Sri Lanka, Estonia, Greece have already approved Covaxin while many others were waiting for WHO’s decision before extending approvals.