Grant of approval to a vaccine by any country is a technical and scientific process for which data is to be submitted to the regulator by the vaccine manufacturer as per the prescribed rules, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said.
Covaxin has been granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) in 13 countries as on January 31 according to the WHO, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Responding to a question, she said Covaxin was granted EUL by the national regulator, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), in the age group 12 to 18 years on December 24, 2021. The COVID-19 Working Group of NTAGI recommended Covid vaccination in adolescents between 15 years to 18 years, Pawar said in a written reply.
On recommendation of the COVID-19 Working Group and Standing Technical Subcommittee of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), Government of India started vaccination of adolescents aged 15 to 18 years from January 3.
“Grant of approval to a vaccine by any country is a technical and scientific process for which data is to be submitted to the regulator by the vaccine manufacturer as per the prescribed rules. According to the WHO, as on 31 January 2022, Covaxin has been granted EUL in 13 countries,” she said.
On whether the government noted the difficulties being faced by foreign companies in supply of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech, Ms Pawar said no specific information has been brought to notice by foreign companies that they are facing difficulties in the supply of the vaccine.
During the second surge of the pandemic in the country in April and May last year, the requirements of National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme were prioritised. This may have impacted foreign commercial contracts entered into by domestic vaccine manufacturers, she said.
On whether the government has evaluated the likely financial loss due to this, Pawar said that as informed by Ministry of External Affairs, there is no financial loss involved since during the second surge, domestic vaccine production was procured and utilised in the National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
