Covax Initiative Asks WHO To Expedite Emergency Use Listing Of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin

The international COVID-19 vaccine sharing initiative called Covax has asked the World Health Organisation (WHO) to expedite the approval for Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin which is the first indigenously developed Indian vaccine against COVID-19, reports Economic Times.

In a meeting held on Friday (21 May), Covax facility experts from India and other nations recommended the approval of Covaxin and Russia's Sputnik V. This gains significance as WHO’s approval is a prerequisite for any COVID-19 vaccine to be included under the Covax for distribution.

It should be noted that so far, the WHO has only given approvals to the vaccines from Europe and North America.

Also, in a meeting yesterday (24 May), External Affairs Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is said to have assured Bharat Biotech of the “fullest support” of diplomatic establishment in securing the approvals from the WHO and important countries.

Dr Krishna Ella led company had submitted its expression of interest for an emergency use listing (EUL) of Covaxin to WHO in April. Following this, the WHO had asked Bharat Biotech for additional details. The company is expected to submit its final dossier of details soon.