Due to the lack of a WHO approval, persons who have received both the doses of Covaxin are being treated as unvaccinated in many countries. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has asked students, who want to travel abroad but are facing hurdles due to taking Covaxin shots, to be patient and avoid mixing vaccines or getting double vaccinations.
He said a good number of students and their parents, who had been administered Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, were in a fix at the moment and approaching public representatives and doctors, seeking advice on the road ahead.
“Bharat Biotech’s vaccine hasn’t been approved by the World Health Organization. Students who want to travel abroad for studies and their parents have approached us asking for a solution. Many are asking if they should go for Covishield after taking both shots of Covaxin, or that those who have taken one dose of Covaxin should now take a jab of Covishield. This will do harm and the experts that I spoke to have advised against this,” Pawar said.
He said the central government and Bharat Biotech were trying to get an approval for Covaxin and the issue should soon be resolved. “Students should not take any rash step that may turn out to be harmful,” said the deputy chief minister.
Due to lack of WHO approval, those who have received both doses of Covaxin are being seen as without vaccination in many countries.
As students and others who have taken Covaxin jabs continue to face restrictions in travelling abroad, a latest bid by Bharat Biotech’s US partner Acugen to obtain an emergency use authorisation was rejected by US Food and Drug Administration last week.
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