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Updated 16 November 2021
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) granted approval for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of Covaxin. Despite the WHO approval, many countries are yet to approve the vaccine for seamless entry and exit of travellers. Those who have opted to get Covaxin shot are now awaiting government intervention to obtain mutual recognition of vaccine certificates between more countries.
Meanwhile, the EMA is yet to recognize Covaxin for travel, but several European nations have given the nod to this vaccine. Here’s a list of all European countries that has accepted Covaxin for travel.
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About Covaxin
Covaxin, also known as BBV152, was developed by Pune, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, collaborating with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology (NIV). The government of India rolled out Covaxin along with Covishield (manufactured by the Serum Institute of India) at the mega vaccination drive on 16 January 2021.
Covaxin is an inactivated whole virus vaccine containing SARS-CoV-2 particles that have been chemically deactivated. This means that they cannot infect cells. Instead, they can stimulate a protective immune response as the viral particles cannot cause disease. The vaccine is also suitable for people with compromised immune systems. It comes as a two-dose regimen recommended to be taken with a dosing interval of four weeks in all age groups 18 and above.
Covaxin WHO approval status
With the ‘Emergency Use Listing’ status accorded by the WHO on 3 November 2021, several countries are expected to add Covaxin to the list of vaccines recognized under their jurisdictions. The approval was done on the recommendation of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), which is an independent advisory panel of experts in vaccines and immunization-related issues. They advise WHO on whether a Covid19 vaccine can be listed for emergency use under the EUL procedure.
WHO has stated that “Covaxin was found to have 78 per cent efficacy against COVID-19 of any severity, 14 or more days after the second dose, and is extremely suitable for low- and middle-income countries due to easy storage requirements”.
Other vaccines approved by WHO include:
- Pfizer/BioNTech: Comirnaty
- Oxford/AstraZeneca: Vaxzevria and Covishield
- Johnson & Johnson: Ad26.COV2.S
- Moderna: mRNA-1273
- Sinopharm: BBIBP-CorV
- Sinovac: CoronaVac
Covaxin EMA status
Most of the EU countries prefer to recognize for travel only those vaccines that have been approved for use by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The need for EMA approval has posed an issue for travellers who have already taken Covaxin as it is yet to be recognized by the organization.
Currently, all WHO Member States (including EU countries) are allowed the emergency use of Covaxin within their country by following their own legislation. EMA’s human medicines committee evaluates clinical trials and decides if there is enough evidence for the vaccine developer to apply for marketing authorization. The organization has currently approved the following COVID-19 vaccines:
- Pfizer/BioNTech: Comirnaty
- Moderna: mRNA-1273
- Oxford/AstraZeneca: Vaxzevria
- Johnson & Johnson: Ad26.COV2.S
European countries that have approved Covaxin for entry
The Indian government is currently negotiating with the European Union to relax travel restrictions under its Green Pass Scheme (the EU’s recognized digital COVID certificate for travel). These relaxations will allow uninterrupted movement of Covaxin vaccinated individuals to EU nations.
As Covaxin awaits EMA approval, some European countries have started recognizing the vaccine. The following twelve EU/Schengen Area have given Covaxin the go-ahead for travel so far:
Estonia
The other vaccines approved by Estonia are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Greece
The other vaccines approved by Greece are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Switzerland
The other vaccines approved by Switzerland are Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen.
Austria
The other vaccines approved by Austria are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Finland
The other vaccines approved by Finland are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Hungary
The other vaccines approved by Hungary are Moderna, Pfizer, CanSino, Sputnik V, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Covishield and Sinopharm.
Iceland
The other vaccines approved by Iceland are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Latvia
The other vaccines approved by Latvia are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Netherlands
The other vaccines approved by the Netherlands are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Spain
The other vaccines approved by Spain are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Slovakia
The other vaccines approved by Slovakia are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
Sweden
The other vaccines approved by Sweden are Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
UK
The UK government will also authorize Covaxin for international travellers starting 22 November after the WHO EUL.
Apart from EU nations and other countries in Europe, Covaxin has been recognized for travel by many more countries across the globe, including Canada, the US, Australia, Russia, Oman and Maldives.
