Covaxin Shot Can Hamper Travel Plans of Indians

Indians who received Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine 'Covaxin jabs' may not qualify for travelling abroad. Covaxin is not yet on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL).

Indians may not be able to travel abroad if they have taken the Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine called the Covaxin, as many countries are yet to approve the vaccine.

Multiple reports said that over 130 countries across the globe currently accept Serum Institute of India's (SII) Covishield vaccine to enter their country while Covaxin is accepted in only nine nations.

Covaxin Offers Protection Against New COVID-19 Variants
Bharat Biotech's Covaxin demonstrates protection against the new Covid-19 variants, says new study. A modest reduction in neutralisation was observed against B1617 variant compared to vaccine variant.

‘Covaxin has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials in the age group of two to 18 years.’

Also, Covaxin is not yet on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL).

The latest WHO guidance document shows that Bharat Biotech has submitted its Expression of Interest (EoI) but "more information is required".

Bharat Biotech was yet to react to the reports.

Covid-19: Demand for Covaxin Grows Among Indians
India has administered over 2 crore vaccine doses so far and is giving away millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines to other countries.

However, a peer-review publication Clinical Infectious Diseases has noted that Covaxin demonstrates protection against the new Covid-19 variants.

The study found that vaccination with Covaxin produced neutralizing titers against all key emerging variants tested including B1617 and B117, first identified in India and the UK, respectively.

COVID Vaccine Covaxin Trials on Children Likely from Next Month
Bharat Biotech may commence the pediatric trials of its COVID vaccine Covaxin from June, a senior company official said.

A modest reduction in neutralization by a factor of 1.95 was observed against the B1617 variant compared to the vaccine variant.

Top officials in the country said this week that they will begin clinical trials to test the Covaxin vaccine's efficacy in children between two to 18 years of age in 10-12 days.

COVID-19 Vaccine COVAXIN's Animal Trial Gets Robust Immune Responses
In animal studies, the COVID-19 vaccine candidate, COVAXIN has shown positive efficacy and generated robust immune responses, said Bharat Biotech International Limited.

"Covaxin has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials in the age group of two to 18 years. I have been told that trials will begin in the next 10-12 days," V.K. Paul, NITI Aayog's Member Health, had said.

Source-IANS