After WHO nod, US to allow Covaxin-vaccinated from Nov 8

In a boost for India’s credentials as a vaccine power, the United States has given approval to travellers vaccinated with Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin to enter the country. The revised rules will come into effect from November 8, when the US is poised to open its borders to vaccinated foreign travellers. “CDC’s travel guidance applies to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved/authorised and World Health Organisation (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL) vaccines and encompasses any new vaccines that may be added to either of those lists over time,” said US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) press officer Scott Pauley. This decision came a day after the CDC acknowledged the WHO’s granting of an emergency use listing to Covaxin, India’s indigenously-developed vaccine. The WHO explained that the Technical Advisory Group, convened by the organisation, has determined that the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine meets WHO standards for protection against the virus. The new US travel rules will also accept travelers who are fully vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Covishield, Sinopharm and Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines.