Covaxin clearance delayed as WHO sends more queries to Bharat Biotech

The World Health Organization has further delayed the approval for India's Covaxin. The global body has sent more technical queries to its Covid-19 vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech, NDTV has reported quoting sources.

Without WHO nod, Covaxin will not be considered an accepted vaccine by most countries around the world. WHO's queries for Bharat Biotech comes despite the Hyderabad-based drug maker asserting that it has submitted all data required for clearance.

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This delay is likely to adversely affect Indians', especially students', international travel plans.

Just a few days ago, the Union Health Ministry had hinted that the global body was likely to give its nod anytime soon.

According to Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech, Phase III clinical trials of Covaxin had demonstrated an efficacy rate of 77.8 per cent.

Covaxin is one of the six vaccines that have received emergency use authorisation from India's drug regulator and is being used in the nationwide inoculation programme, along with Covishield and Sputnik V.