Covaxin – ated can cheer today, as Australia today officially announced it will open its doors to inbound travelers from India who are double vaccinated with COVAXIN. Further it has eased restriction on international travel. After more than 18 months of some of the world’s strictest Coronavirus border policies, this has come a huge respite to Indian travelers and students.
Sharing the good news on their microblogging site TGA Austraila wrote “Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India) and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China) vaccines would be ‘recognised’ for the purpose of establishing a traveller’s vaccination status. This recognition is for travellers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV,” a media release from the Australian government said. said.
Importantly, recognition of Covaxin, and this will have significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia. TGA’s updated report on its advice about vaccines not registered in Australia but in use internationally can be found at: COVID-19 vaccines not registered in Australia but in current international use – TGA advice on “recognition”.
In addition, with input from the TGA, ATAGI have determined that those who have received two doses of a TGA-approved or recognised vaccine at least 14 days apart are regarded as fully vaccinated from 7 days.
COVAXIN now recognized by Australia, travel restrictions lifted
“This recognition means many citizens of China and India, as well as other countries in our region where these vaccines have been widely deployed, will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia. This will have significant impacts on the return of international students, and the travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia” the media release added.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s regulatory authority for therapeutic goods, said that it has obtained additional information demonstrating that these vaccines provide protection and potentially reduce the likelihood that an incoming traveller would transmit COVID-19 infection to others while in Australia or become acutely unwell due to COVID-19.
Earlier, the regulatory body had recommended that only the vaccines approved for use in Australia, and Covishield from India and Sinovac from China be recognised for the purposes of travel and other restrictions.
Countries that allow COVAXIN-ated
- Mauritius: Indians who are fully vaccinated with Covaxin can travel to Mauritius, but only after 14 days of the second dose. Travellers should also have a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test result obtained 3-7 days before departing from India.
- Oman: Indians who have taken Covaxin won’t be required to serve the 14-day quarantine any more. The country has also approved Covaxin. According to the Indian embassy in Oman, “All passengers from India who have received two doses of Covaxin at least 14 days before the estimated arrival date will now be able to travel to Oman without the requirement of quarantine.” Previously, Indian travellers who had taken Covishield were only permitted to travel without quarantine to Oman.
- Philippines: Travellers who are planning to go to the Philippines need to be vaccinated at least after 14 days of taking the single or double shot of the Covaxin.
- Nepal: The rules to travel to Nepal for Covaxin beneficiaries are also the same as the Philippines. Indian citizens need to show the Covid-19 vaccine certificate and the last dose of the vaccine must have been taken at least 14 days before entering the country.
- Mexico: Cofepris, the country’s health regulator, has authorised the emergency use of Covaxin. In case, citizens show symptoms of coronavirus infection then they will undergo quarantine.
- Iran: This is another country where Indians who have been inoculated with Covaxin can visit. The person needs to undergo quarantine for 14 days if RT-PCR test reports are not with them.
- Sri Lanka: India’s neighbour accepts both Covaxin and Covishield. However, unvaccinated travellers will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
- Greece: Indians arriving in Greece need to show a Covid-19 vaccine certificate, a negative RT-PCR report of less than 72 hours, or a negative antigen test less than 48 hours old. People do not need to quarantine unless Covid symptoms are observed on arrival.
- Estonia: Indian citizens who have taken Covaxin will be allowed to skip the testing and quarantine mandates. It was one of the first countries to recognise Covaxin.
- Zimbabwe: Indian travellers need to show negative proof of valid RT-PCR test results. Besides, both Covishield and Covaxin are approved by the African nation.
