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.