In welcome news for Indian travellers and students, Australia Monday recognized India's Covaxin for the purpose of travel to the country as it eased curbs on international travel. "Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India) and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China) vaccines would be 'recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status. This recognition is for travellers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV," a statement from the Australian government said.

The World Health Organisation is to meet this week to consider Emergency Use Authorisation for Covaxin that India has been pressing. 

"This recognition means many citizens of China and India, as well as other countries in our region where these vaccines have been widely deployed, will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia. This will have significant impacts on the return of international students, and the travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia," the government statement added.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia's regulatory authority for therapeutic goods, said that it has obtained additional information demonstrating that 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.

Earlier, the regulatory body had recommended that only the vaccines approved for use in Australia, and Covishield from India and Sinovac from China, be recognised for the purposes of travel and other restrictions.