Australia recognises India’s Covaxin

November 2, 2021

Australian Government has recognised Covaxin covid-19 vaccine of India on November 1, 2021.

Highlights

In India, Covaxin and Covishield are the two widely used vaccines.
Australia had recognised Covishield, already.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia has recognised Covaxin as well as BBIBP-CorV vaccines for establishing a traveller’s vaccination status.
Covaxin vaccine has been recognised for travellers aged 12 and above while BBIBP-CorV vaccine has been recognised for people aged between 18 to 60.

TGA approval

TGA took this after obtaining additional information demonstrating that these vaccines provide protection and reduce the likelihood that traveller would transmit Covid infection to others while travelling in Australia.

About Covaxin

The Covaxin vaccine is codenamed as BBV152. It is an inactivated virus-based COVID-19 vaccine. It was developed by Bharat Biotech in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV). This vaccine is 64% effective against asymptomatic cases, 78% against symptomatic cases, 93% against severe COVID-19 cases while 65% against the Delta variant.

Manufacturing of Covaxin

Covaxin vaccine uses traditional technology, similar to inactivated polio vaccine. India’s institute of Virology isolated a sample of SARS-CoV-2 initially. The sample was used to grow huge quantities of the virus using vero cells. Later, the viruses were soaked in beta-propiolactone. This liquid deactivated the viruses by binding to their genes and leaving other viral particles intact. Lastly, inactivated viruses were mixed with aluminium-based adjuvant Alhydroxiquim-II.

Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

TGA is the medicine & therapeutic regulatory agency of Australian Government. It is a part of Health Department and regulates the quality, supply & advertising of medicines, medical devices, pathology devices and blood products.

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