Germany to recognise Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for travel from June 1
New Delhi, May 26: German Ambassador to India, Walter J Lindner hailed the German government on Thursday for recognising the WHO-listed Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, for travel to the country starting June 1.
In November last year, World Health Organization (WHO) issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for Covaxin, adding to a growing portfolio of vaccines validated for the prevention of Covid-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.
"Very happy that GER government just decided to recognize WHO-listed Covaxin for travels to GER, starting June 1! This Embassy has been pushing very actively for such a decision (because of Covid-backlogs visa sections have longer waiting periods than normal, please have patience), said the Ambassador to Germany and Bhutan Lindner on Twitter.
The WHO's EUL procedure, which is required for Covax vaccine supply, evaluates the quality, safety, and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines. It also enables countries to expedite their own regulatory approval for the import and administration of Covid-19 vaccines.
"This emergency use listing expands the availability of vaccines, the most effective medical tools we have to end the pandemic," asserted Dr Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products.
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Earlier, in April, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted an emergency use authorisation (EUA) to Covaxin for the age group of 6-12 years.
Bharat Biotech, a Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company, said in a statement that it had undertaken phase II/III, open-label, and multicenter studies to assess the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of Covaxin in healthy children and adolescents aged 2 to 18.
Clinical trials in the pediatric age group from June 2021 to September 2021 showed high safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity.
Covaxin is designed in such a way that the same dosage can be given to both adults and children. Covaxin is a ready-to-use liquid vaccine with a 12-month shelf life and a multi-dose vial policy that is stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius.
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-PTC News
