WHO seeks clarifications from Bharat Biotech on Covaxin
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), additional clarifications from manufacturer are required to conduct final Emergency Use Listing (EUL) risk-benefit assessment for using Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin globally.
Key Points
- Technical advisory group are now scheduled to meet on November 3 for final assessment.
- Bharat Biotech has been submitting data on rolling basis to the WHO. It also submitted additional information at the request of UN health body on September 27.
Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL)
TAG-EUL is an independent advisory group. It provides recommendations on whether Covid 19 vaccine can be listed for emergency use or not under the EUL procedure. It submits report to WHO.
About Covaxin
Covaxin is the first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine of India. It is developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech in association with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The vaccine is 77.8 per cent effective against symptomatic covid-19 while 65.2 per cent against Delta variant. It is an inactivated virus-based covid-19 vaccine
How was this vaccine developed?
Covaxin uses a traditional technology, like inactivated polio vaccine. In initial phase, sample of SARS-CoV-2 was isolated by National Institute of Virology, India. Sample was used to grow large quantities of the virus through vero cells. Later, viruses were soaked in beta-propiolactone to deactivate them by getting attached to their genes. Lastly, inactivated viruses are mixed with aluminium-based adjuvant Alhydroxiquim-II.
Which vaccines have been approved by WHO?
So far, WHO has approved Covid-19 vaccines of Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson-Janssen, AstraZeneca-SK Bio/Serum Institute of India, Sinopharm and Moderna for emergency use.
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Month: Current Affairs - October, 2021