The World Health Organization (WHO) approved the Covovax vaccine for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) on Friday, bringing the total number of immunizations approved to combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to nine.
The vaccine is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India under license from Novavax, and it will now be included in the COVAX facility portfolio, bolstering efforts to vaccinate more people in low-income countries.
Dr. Mariângela Simo, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, stated that “despite the emergence of new variants, vaccines remain one of the most effective tools for protecting people against serious illness and death from SARS-COV-2.”
She stated that WHO hoped the new Indian-produced shots would increase access, particularly in lower-income countries, 41 of which have yet to vaccinate 10% of their populations, while 98 have yet to reach 40%.
The WHO procedure for qualifying vaccines for emergency use evaluates the quality, safety, and efficacy of the vaccines. Countries can also use the approval to speed up their own regulatory processes.
The WHO-convened Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL), comprised of experts from around the world, determined that the vaccine meets WHO standards for COVID-19 protection, that the benefits outweigh any risks, and that it can be used globally.
Covovax is a vaccine subunit developed by Novavax and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). It requires two doses and is stable at refrigerated temperatures ranging from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.
This week, the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) met to discuss the vaccine.