WHO approves emergency use of Serum Institute’s Covid vaccine COVOVAX

Context

Recently, the World Health Organisation has granted emergency use approval to COVOVAX Coronavirus Vaccine which has been manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) under the license of the US company Novavax.

Key-points

• Covovax by Serum Institute of India was assessed under the WHO Emergency Use Listing procedure. 
• The vaccine, produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) under licence from Novavax, and is part of the COVAX facility, a worldwide initiative aimed at providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
• Covovax is a subunit of the vaccine developed by Novavax and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). 
• It requires two doses and is stable at 2 to 8 °C refrigerated temperatures.
• It was based on the review of data on the safety, quality, and efficacy, programmatic suitability, a risk management plan, and manufacturing site inspections carried out by the Drugs Control General of India (DCGI).

List of Vaccines approved by WHO

• Nine Covid-19 vaccines, including Covovax or Novovax, have been given the emergency or full use approval by WHO
  • Pfizer
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca (Covishield)
  • Oxford-AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria)
  • Sinopharm
  • Moderna
  • Janssen
  • CoronaVac
  • Covaxin
  • Covovax