Responding to a question on whether it has come to the notice of the government that Covaxin used in India is not recognised by many countries, Pawar said the government is aware that Covaxin at present is not part of WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
West Bengal has vaccinated over 2.75 crore people so far and out of them, 81.9 lakh got the second dose, the health official said.
The Government of India has been holding discussions with COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer, for procuring their vaccine. However, there has been a delay over the same.
The termination of the MoU came after the deal with the Brazilian government for supply of 20 million doses of the vaccine landed in controversy and attracted investigation by authorities in that country.
The rolling submission process was recommended and accepted under the Minister of Health's Interim Order Respecting the Importation, Sale and Advertising of Drugs for Use in Relation to COVID-19.
A decline in average daily vaccination against the coronavirus has been seen since June 21, when the new phase of universalisation of COVID-19 vaccination commenced, government data showed.
Speaking at a webinar organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Friday, Soumya Swaminathan said the WHO is reviewing Covaxin as its manufacturer Bharat Biotech is now uploading its entire data on the health body’s portal.
Covaxin gives 77.8 per cent efficacy against COVID 19, and 65.2 per cent protection against the SARS-CoV-2, B.1.617.2 Delta variant
Announcing the Brazil government's decision, its Health Ministry said in a statement that "with the recommendation of the Office of the Comptroller General of the Union, the Ministry of Health temporarily suspended the contract for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccine from Covaxin this Tuesday (29)."
The Covaxin contract to Brazil had landed in controversy after the South American country's Attorney General reportedly launched a probe into the deal.
Brazil had in February signed a deal with Bharat Biotech to procure 20 million doses of Covaxin for USD 324 million.
The officials said Krishna Ella was provided the security cover of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) armed commandos sometime ago given his current profile of spearheading the production of life-saving vaccines and other medical essentials.
More than 1.45 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and union territories and over 19,10,650 jabs are in the pipeline.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has been facing tough questions over the delay in announcing its phase 3 trial data of the vaccine.
Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is one of the three vaccines which are currently being used in India. The phase III data of its vaccine have been questioned various times and that is what makes the data crucial which will ascertain the efficacy of the vaccine.
Bharat Biotech had said last month that it expects approval for its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin from the World Health Organisation for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) during July-September.
The Union Health Ministry has said that some social media posts have distorted facts that the indigenously manufactured Covaxine contains the serum of a newborn calf. The Health Ministry said that the serum of the newborn calf is used only for the preparation and development of Vero cells
The supply price of Bharat Biotech''s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin to the central government at Rs 150 per dose is not sustainable in the long run, the vaccine maker said on Tuesday.
The recruitment for the clinical trial Bharat Biotech's vaccine Covaxin, among children in the age group of 6-12 years will begin at the AIIMS today.
Bharat Biotech on Saturday said scientific standards and commitment of the indigenously-developed COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin are transparent.
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