WHO Approves Indian-Made Covid-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use

  • Bharat Biotech shot has been scrutinized by WHO for months
  • Covaxin’s Phase 3 trial data still hasn’t been peer reviewed
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The World Health Organization granted emergency authorization to a Covid-19 vaccine co-developed by India’s medical-research agency and local manufacturer Bharat Biotech International Ltd., ending a months-long wait that added to controversy around the homegrown shot.

The WHO approved the vaccine’s use in people aged 18 and older on a two-dose schedule with four weeks between shots, according to a statement on Wednesday. Covaxin joins a range of WHO emergency-cleared shots from AstraZeneca Plc, China’s Sinopharm Group Co. and Sinovac Biotech Ltd., Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE , Johnson & Johnson and Moderna Inc.