Nov 4, 2021 - Health

WHO approves Indian COVID vaccine in boost for global supply efforts

Rebecca Falconer

A health worker inoculates a man with a dose of Covaxin’s COVID-19 vaccine in Bangalore, India on June 9, 2021 — A health worker inoculates a man with a dose of Covaxin’s COVID-19 vaccine in Bangalore, India, in June. Photo: Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images

The World Health Organization on Wednesday approved Indian drugmaker Bharat Biotech's Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.

Why it matters: The approval should help with gaps in global coronavirus vaccine supplies, particularly in low-income countries, and boost the United Nations-backed COVAX program that's aimed at addressing COVID-19 vaccine inequality.

Without access to vaccines, people in low-income countries will keep dying long into the future as the virus continues circulating — increasing the risk of dangerous new variants emerging, per Axios' Caitlin Owens.

The big picture: The WHO said in a statement that Bharat Biotech's two-dose vaccine, which is made in India, is 78% against COVID-19.

The agency noted that the Indian government-backed vaccine is "extremely suitable for low- and middle-income countries due to easy storage requirements."

The bottom line: Mariângela Simão, WHO assistant-director general for access to medicines and health products, noted in a statement that vaccines are "the most effective medical tools we have to end the pandemic."

"But we must keep up the pressure to meet the needs of all populations, giving priority to the at-risk groups who are still waiting for their first dose, before we can start declaring victory," Simão added.

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WHO approves Indian COVID vaccine in boost for global supply efforts

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