The WHO in a major development on Wednesday announced that it has approved the emergency use listing (EUL) to Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin. This comes after the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), an independent advisory committee of WHO-recommended EUL status for Covaxin.
The global health body in a tweet said, “WHO has granted emergency use listing (EUL) to #COVAXIN (developed by Bharat Biotech), adding to a growing portfolio of vaccines validated by WHO for the prevention of COVID-19.”
🆕 WHO has granted emergency use listing (EUL) to #COVAXIN® (developed by Bharat Biotech), adding to a growing portfolio of vaccines validated by WHO for the prevention of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/dp2A1knGtT
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 3, 2021
Dr Poonam Khetarpal Singh, Regional Director of WHO South East Asia, in a tweet, said, “Congratulations India for Emergency Use Listing of its indigenously produced COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin.”
“The Technical Advisory Group of WHO has recommended Emergency Use Listing status for Covaxin,” a source told PTI before the WHO announcement. The TAG on October 26 had sought “additional clarifications” from the company for Covaxin to conduct a final “risk-benefit calculation” for Emergency Use Listing of the vaccine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the G20 summit recently. The TAG-EUL is an independent advisory group that provides recommendations to WHO on whether a COVID-19 vaccine can be listed for emergency use under the EUL procedure