Australia approves India-made Covaxin for travel

In major news, the Australian government has decided to approve India-made Covaxin for travel purposes. The government, on Monday, recognised Bharat Biotech's Covaxin vaccine and added it to its travellers' vaccination status.

Australia's High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell took to Twitter and announced, "Today, the Therapeutic Goods Administration determined that Covaxin (manufactured by BharatBiotech) vaccine would be 'recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status."
He further wrote, "Importantly, recognition of Covaxin, along with the previously announced recognition of Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca India), means many citizens, as well as other countries, will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia."

Today, the @TGAgovau determined that Covaxin (manufactured by @BharatBiotech, 🇮🇳) vaccine would be 'recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status (1/2) https://t.co/wn2Mno2JEq

— Barry O’Farrell AO (@AusHCIndia) November 1, 2021

A statement released by Australia's Department of Health informed that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has got additional information demonstrating these vaccines and that it provides protection and also potentially reduces the likelihood that an incoming traveller would transmit COVID-19 virus to others.
This means that many Indians (including students and workers) who had taken shots of Covaxin would be able to travel to Australia. It’s a huge move for India as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has still not approved the vaccine. The health agency tweeted that they have “decided that additional clarifications from the manufacturer (Bharat Biotech) are needed to conduct a final EUL risk-benefit assessment for global use of the Covaxin vaccine".