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'Expect recommendation within next 24 hours or so': WHO advisory group on Covaxin's emergency use approval

Millions of Indians have received the Bharat Biotech vaccine, yet many have been unable to travel due to the WHO's permission.

WHO advisory group on Covaxin's emergency use approval says Expect recommendation within next 24 hours gcw
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United States, First Published Oct 26, 2021, 7:00 PM IST

World Health Organization technical advisory panel was analysing data on Covaxin shot against COVID-19, with a decision on its emergency use listing expected shortly, informed a spokesman on Tuesday. "If everything is in place and everything goes well, and if the committee is happy, we would expect a recommendation within the next 24 hours or so," Margaret Harris said during a United Nations news conference. Millions of Indians have received the Bharat Biotech vaccine, yet many have been unable to travel due to the WHO's permission.

While a decision on the emergency use listing of Covaxin, which is made in India, is pending, a top WHO official noted that properly reviewing and approving a vaccine for usage might take time. Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said it must be guaranteed that the world receives sound guidance even if it means waiting another week or two. He further said that the World Health Organization "clearly wishes for all states to recognise vaccinations that have earned an Emergency Use Listing under the WHO recommendation procedure."

Also Read | 'Extremely essential, often takes longer': Top WHO official on approval of emergency use of Covaxin

On Sunday, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the coronavirus pandemic would end when all the countries started using the available health tools effectively. "The pandemic will end when the world chooses to end it. It is in our hands. We have all the tools we need: effective public health tools and effective medical tools. But the world has not used those tools well. With almost 50,000 deaths a week, the pandemic is far from over," Dr Tedros was quoted by ANI as saying in his address to the World Health Summit in Berlin. The WHO chief called on G20 countries that have already vaccinated 40 per cent of their population to actively engage in the COVAX mechanism and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust.

Also Read | WHO expects additional information from Bharat Biotech before recommending Covaxin, says 'Cannot cut corners'

 

 

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