Australia recognises Covaxin, allows Indian travellers to enter as travel ban lifted

The Australian government has announced its decision to recognise Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and allow travellers vaccinated with the same into the country. The decision came after the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said that Covaxin data showed that it had a protective effect against Covid-19 and that those vaccinated with it would have low likelihood of being infected and passing it on in Australia.

Even as Covaxin awaits approval by the World Health Organisation, the TGA said that both Covaxin and BBIBP-CorV, manufactured by China's Sinopharm, "would be recognised for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status". A month ago, TGA gave Covidhield the same stamp of approval.

The decision will prove a boon to students and businesses in both India and Australia who have been unable to travel to the country during its 600 day travel ban enforced in March of 2020. Australian officials had earlier said that foreign students, including Indians, will be able to start returning towards the end of this year and the beginning of 2022, ahead of the start of the first semester in February-March.

International travel opened up today in Australia, after more than a year of some of the toughest restrictions on travel in any country around the world.