REVIEW OF COVAXIN UNDERWAY, DECISION SOON: WHO OFFICIAL

NEW DELHI: A World Health Organization technical advisory group was reviewing data on India’s Covaxin shot against Covid-19 on Tuesday with a decision on its emergency use listing likely soon, a spokesperson said.

Margaret Harris told journalists that the technical advisory group is currently reviewing data on India’s indigenouslymade vaccine against coronavirus disease (Covid-19). “If all is in place and all goes well and if the committee is satisfied, we would expect a recommendation within the next 24 hours or so,” news agency Reuters quoted Harris as saying at a UN press briefing in Geneva.

Millions of Indians have taken a Covaxin shot but many have been unable to travel pending the WHO approval.

The vaccine has been developed by Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company Bharat Biotech. It had submitted the Expression of Interest (EOI) for the emergency use approval as far back as April 19, but WHO has said it needs more data from the company before showing the green light.

Without a WHO nod, the twodose Covaxin is unlikely to be accepted as a valid vaccine globally. Last Friday, a top official of the WHO said the process of thoroughly evaluating a vaccine for use and recommending it sometimes takes a long time but it has to be ensured that the right advice is given to the world.

“The World Health Organisation is very clear that we want all countries to recognise vaccines that have been given an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) by the WHO advisory process. But it’s also very important that WHO, when it makes a recommendation like that, is making that globally,” WHO Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director Dr Mike Ryan had said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Indian Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers on Saturday and discussed various issues including furthering the vaccine research.

THE WHO IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE WANT ALL COUNTRIES TO RECOGNISE VACCINES THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN EUL BY WHO ADVISORY PROCESS. BUT IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WHO, WHEN IT MAKES A RECOMMENDATION LIKE THAT, IS MAKING THAT GLOBALLY: DR MIKE RYAN