Australia on Monday recognised India’s Covid19 vaccine Covaxin for the purpose of travel to the country as it eased restrictions on international travel.
A media release of the Australian government said: “Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India) and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China) vaccines would be ‘recognised’ for the purpose of establishing a traveller’s vaccination status.”
“This recognition is for travellers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV,” it added.
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“This recognition 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 on the return of international students, and the travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia,” the media release further added.
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The regulatory authority of Australia for therapeutic goods, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said it has obtained additional information demonstrating that these vaccines provide protection and potentially reduce the likelihood that an incoming traveller would transmit COVID19 infection to others while in Australia or become acutely unwell due to COVID19.
The regulatory body of Australia earlier recommended that only the vaccines approved for use in Australia, and Covishield from India and Sinovac from China be recognised for the purposes of travel.