New Delhi: In a move that would help Indian students and workers travelling to Australia, the Australian government on Nov 1 said that it will accept India's Covaxin as a "recognized" vaccine to establish a traveller's vaccination status.
The announcement came when the Bharat Biotech-manufactured Covid-19 vaccine is seeking approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO), following which it would be recognised worldwide.
Media reports said, "The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of the government of Australia, which regulates and authorises vaccines in the country, said – "In recent weeks, the TGA has obtained additional information demonstrating 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".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the microblogging site to thank the Australian PM for the move.
"I thank my dear friend @ScottMorrisonMP for Australia's recognition of India's COVAXIN. It is an important step forward in the post-COVID partnership between India and Australia. Mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates continues."
The decision will certainly have a significant impact on the return of international students and the travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia.
Meanwhile, five more countries have recognised India's vaccination certificates. They are Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, the State of Palestine, Mauritius and Mongolia.
