COVAX Calls For Equal Recognition Of Covid Vaccines For Travel

COVAX -- the global alliance for equitable vaccine distribution -- said it was built on the principle of equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to protect the health of people all across the globe.

Calling for "equal recognition of vaccines", COVAX on Thursday urged all governments to recognise as "fully vaccinated" those people who have received COVID-19 vaccines deemed safe by WHO, saying any move that restricts travel of people based on the vaccines they have received is "counter-effective, both in spirit and outcome". In a statement, COVAX -- the global alliance for equitable vaccine distribution -- said it was built on the principle of equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to protect the health of people all across the globe and that means protecting their lives and livelihoods, including their ability to travel and conduct trade. "As travel and other possibilities begin to open up in some parts of the world, COVAX urges all regional, national and local government authorities to recognise as fully vaccinated all people who have received COVID-19 vaccines that have been deemed safe and effective by the World Health Organisation and/or the 11 Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs) approved for COVID-19 vaccines, when making decisions on who is able to travel or attend events," it said. As per WHO, the 11 SRAs are Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Belgium's Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP), Health Canada, EU's European Medicines Agency (EMA), France's L'Agence nationale de securite du medicament et des produits de sante (ASNM), Germany's Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), The Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), The Medicines Evaluation Board of Netherlands, Swissmedic, UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).