The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already delayed the decision regarding the approval for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for emergency usage by several weeks. It is likely that the decision in this regard will be issued by the global health agency today.
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG), an independent advisory panel of WHO, will most likely issue the final decision on November 3 regarding the emergency usage listing (EUL) approval of the Indian COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin.
The TAG of WHO had earlier asked Bharat Biotech to issue additional clarifications to monitor the approval of Covaxin. The advisory committee is scheduled to meet today, and the approval for Covaxin is expected to be announced after the meeting.
The approval of Covaxin for emergency use listing will amount to recognition and help pave the way for people who have taken the dose to qualify for vaccine mandates in other countries. The approval by WHO was expected by the end of October, but is still awaited by the biotechnology company.
Dr Mariangela Simao, Assistant Director-General, Access to Medicines and Health Products at WHO, had said earlier, “Bharat Biotech has been submitting data regularly and very quickly, but they submitted the last batch of data on the 18th of October.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also talked about the approval of Indian vaccines by the global regulatory body during his address at the G20 summit in Italy. PM Modi said that the nod for the COVID-19 vaccine emergency usage will facilitate international travel, and India will be able to vaccinate people in other countries as well.
WHO officials had stated that the organization is in touch with Bharat Biotech daily in order to communicate all the additional clarifications required for the approval of Covaxin. The technical committees will most likely issue the final decision regarding the approval today.
