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Two new COVID-19 vaccines approved by TGA for travellers trying to enter Australia
Two more types of COVID-19 vaccines, which are not registered in Australia, will be recognised as valid vaccines for travellers proving their vaccination status to enter the country.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has today ruled that the Australian Government will recognise Covaxin and BBIBP-CorV vaccines among arrivals to Australia.
The recognition will be for travellers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin and for travellers aged 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV.
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It comes after the TGA advised on October 1 that the Coronavac and Covishield vaccines also be considered ‘recognised vaccines‘ for incoming international travellers to be regarded as appropriately vaccinated.
Covaxin is manufactured by Bharat Biotech in India while BBIBP-CorV is produced by Sinopharm in China.
According to a statement from the TGA: “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.”
“The supporting information has been provided to the TGA from the vaccine sponsor and/or the World Health Organisation,” the statement reads.
The statement also says the recognition of the vaccines will “have significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia” as it will allow many Chinese and Indian citizens entry to the country.
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