Most universities across Europe and North America are asking for students to be vaccinated before attending classes. Wheres, some institutions say they will offer help on campus. The stress is still escalating, especially among Indian students, as India faces an acute shortage of vaccines.
Even though some students have managed to get vaccinated, they cannot go to other countries because Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin didn’t get approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Several countries like the US, European Union countries, Canada, Australia, and Ireland do not have Covaxin on their approved list of vaccines. And top universities are only allowing those who have inoculated WHO-approved vaccines.
If a vaccine is not on the approved list, students mandatorily have to be hotel quarantine for 14 days.
The WHO has approved Pfizer, Moderna and Covishied so far, but for Covaxin, it states “more information required.”
![India had approved COVAXIN in January without late-stage efficacy data, raising questions about its effectiveness [Photo Illustration by Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-1224647662.jpg?resize=770%2C513)
In turn, Bharat Biotech says that regulatory approvals for Covaxin are in the process of over 60 countries, including the United States, Brazil and Hungary. “Emergency use authorizations have been sought in 13 countries with more to follow,” the company stated. “Application for Emergency use list has been sent to WHO-Geneva and regulatory approvals are expected by September.”
The company also said it was on track and had submitted “90% of the documentation needed” for WHO’s authorization at a meeting on May 25 with the government. “The remaining will be submitted in June.”
As reported by NDTV, Bharat Biotech is confident of getting approval subsequently, “considering its experience of getting its other vaccines prequalified by the WHO.”
It jeopardizes students’ future as the new academic session will begin by August-September, and they are vague about if they will be able to attend classes on time.
As per the government sources, Bharat Biotech informed that it was in the last stages of submitting documents for Covaxin’s regulatory approvals in Hungary and Brazil after “extensive bilateral consultations.”
The biotechnology company informs the Centre, “Bharat Biotech International Limited is also in the final stages to negotiate with the FDA of the United States for running small-scale phase-III clinical trials in the US.”
So students who are planning to pursue their higher studies abrod, keep yourself updated about the the WHO regulations and country wise requirements.
