It's good news for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. According to sources, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended emergency use listing (EUL) status for the made-in-India vaccine.
The WHO is in the process of evaluating Covaxin's clinical trial data for use of EUL. The TAG on October 26 had sought "additional clarifications" from the company for Covaxin to conduct a final "risk-benefit assessment" for Emergency Use Listing of the vaccine. "The Technical Advisory Group of WHO has recommended Emergency Use Listing status for Covaxin," a source told PTI.
The TAG-EUL is an independent advisory group that provides recommendations to WHO on whether a COVID-19 vaccine can be listed for emergency use under the EUL procedure.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also expressed his joy on the occassion.
WHO today granted for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of Made-in-India Covaxin. On this occasion, I congratulate scientists of ICMR and Bharat Biotech (the manufacturer of Covaxin): Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
(File photo) https://t.co/c9PTViNR5F pic.twitter.com/77ucUGCcLq
— ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2021
According to sources, the PM had pushed for Covaxin approval at G20 with Tedros Adhanom, Director general of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Covaxin has demonstrated 77.8 per cent effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 and 65.2 per cent protection against the new Delta variant.
In June, the company said it concluded the final analysis of Covaxin efficacy from Phase 3 trials. Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and AstraZeneca and Oxford University's Covishield are the two widely used vaccines in India.
(With Agency inputs)
