Guyana recognises Covaxin, calls it 'important step' in post-COVID partnership with India

In a significant feat for India, Guyana on Tuesday, 2 November announced that it will now recognise Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin. High Commission of India in Georgetown, Guyana said that the South American nation has recognised India’s indigenously produced vaccine against coronavirus and noted that it marks an “important step” in the post-COVID-19 partnership between India and Guyana. It is also pertinent to note that Guyana is now the 12th nation to recognise Covaxin and its approval came just a day after Australia okayed Bharat Biotech’s vaccine. 

Australia on Monday, November 1, recognised India’s indigenously produced Bharat Biotech's vaccine, Covaxin for the purpose of travelling to the country. It will be helpful in establishing a traveller's vaccination status. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) recognition of Covaxin adds to the list of growing nations giving a nod to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. Even though the World Health Organization (WHO) is yet to give clearance to the India-made COVID-19 vaccine, at least 12 countries have approved the vaccine and allowed entry to the travellers inoculated with Covaxin. 

However, the European Union, the US and the UK among others have not yet approved the Covaxin jabs. Australia’s approval of Covaxin has brought the total number of nations that have approved the India-made COVID-19 vaccine to 11. Most nations are allowing fully vaccinated travellers with Covaxin to enter without being subjected to a 14-day quarantine period. It is pertinent to note that the persons must have received the second dose of Bharat Biotech’s vaccine 14 days prior to the arrival.

Here’s a list of countries that have approved Covaxin

• Guyana
• Australia
• Mauritius
• Oman
• Philippines
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka
• Iran
• Mexico 
• Greece
• Estonia
• Zimbabwe

India Following WHO's Talks On Covaxin 'carefully'

Indian government is carefully following the WHO discussions over Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday, October 29. While answering a query at a media briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Italy and the UK, Shringla said that the approval for the India-made vaccine against COVID-19 “should be given soon”. He also informed that WHO’s technical advisory group (TAG) met on 26 October and they “had a few questions” for Bharat Biotech.

(IMAGE: PTI/@IndiainGuyana/Twitter)