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- Published: November 1, 2021 12:46
New Delhi: India’s Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech) and China’s BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm) have been determined by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia, for travellers who wish to visit the state. Covaxin has been added to the list of accepted/recognised vaccines for persons of age 12 and above, while Sinopharm has been added for those of age 18 to 60 years.
The government issued a statement that read, “Importantly, recognition of Covaxin, and BBIBP-CorV, along with the previously announced recognition of Coronavac (manufactured by Sinovac, China) and Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca, India), means many citizens of China and India, as well as other countries in our region where these vaccines have been widely deployed, will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia. This will have significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia. In addition, with input from the TGA, ATAGI have determined that those who have received two doses of a TGA-approved or recognised vaccine at least 14 days apart are regarded as fully vaccinated from 7 days after the second dose”.
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
The news broke a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed World Health Organization (WHO) for approval of Indian vaccines, while promising to produce 5 billion doses for the world next year.
He said, “India has always been serious about its global obligations. Today, on this G-20 platform, I want to tell you all that India is preparing to produce more than 5 billion vaccine doses for the world next year. This commitment of India will go a long way in preventing the global transmission of Corona. Therefore, it is imperative that Indian vaccines be recognized by the WHO as soon as possible.”
Australia already determines India’s Covishield (AstraZeneca/SII) and China’s Coronavac (Sinovac) as ‘recognised vaccines’ for incoming travellers since October 1.