TheIndian government on Saturday dismissed reports claiming that people who arefully vaccinated with Covaxin may not qualify for travelling abroad as severalcountries are yet to approve the vaccine.
UnionInformation and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said during a pressbriefing that such claims on travel ban are baseless.
"TheWorld Health Organisation (WHO) has not taken any decision on banning peoplefrom travelling who have been vaccinated with Covaxin. Covaxin is the one ofthe most effective vaccines to date," Javadekar said.
Multiplereports had said that over 130 countries across the globe currently acceptSerum Institute of India's (SII) Covishield vaccine to enter their countrywhile Covaxin is accepted in only nine nations.
Thereports claimed that Covaxin is not yet on WHO's Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
Thelatest WHO guidance document shows that Bharat Biotech has submitted itsExpression of Interest (EoI) but "more information is required".
BharatBiotech was yet to react to the reports.
However,a peer-review publication Clinical Infectious Diseases has noted that Covaxindemonstrates protection against the new Covid-19 variants.
Thestudy found that vaccination with Covaxin produced neutralising titres againstall key emerging variants tested including B1617 and B117, first identified inIndia and the UK, respectively.
Amodest reduction in neutralisation by a factor of 1.95 was observed against theB1617 variant compared to the vaccine variant.
Topofficials in the country said this week that they will begin clinical trials totest the Covaxin vaccine's efficacy in children between two to 18 years of agein 10-12 days.
"Covaxinhas been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India for Phase 2 and 3clinical trials in the age group of two to 18 years. I have been told thattrials will begin in the next 10-12 days," V.K. Paul, NITI Aayog's MemberHealth, had said.