Covaxin: Bahrain's Approved Vaccine For Travel

On November 11, 2021, Bahrain approved the emergency use of Covaxin, an Indian-made COVID-19 vaccine produced by Bharat Biotech. The approval was announced by the Indian embassy in Bahrain, which stated that the Kingdom of Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) had given the go-ahead for the vaccine's use in individuals aged 18 years and above. This decision was based on a thorough evaluation of data from clinical trials involving more than 26,000 participants, which demonstrated the vaccine's effectiveness and safety profile. Covaxin's approval in Bahrain is significant as it adds to the growing list of countries recognising the vaccine, facilitating international travel for individuals vaccinated with Covaxin and providing an important tool in the fight against COVID-19.

Covaxin approved for travellers to Bahrain

Bahrain has approved the emergency use of Covaxin, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by India's Bharat Biotech. The approval was announced by the Indian Embassy in Bahrain on 12 November 2021.

The Kingdom of Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) approved the emergency use of the vaccine for those aged 18 and above. The decision followed a careful evaluation of data provided by the manufacturer, carried out by the NHRA's Clinical Trials Committee and the Ministry of Health's Immunization Committee. More than 26,000 people participated in the vaccine's clinical trials, which established that the two-dose regimen is 77.8% effective against COVID-19 and 93.4% effective against severe cases of the disease.

The approval is in line with the Bahrain government's guidelines, under which travellers who have been vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine approved by either Bahrain or the World Health Organization (WHO) will not be required to quarantine upon arrival. This means that passengers travelling from India to Bahrain with valid COVID vaccination certificates issued in India with a scannable QR code for vaccines approved by WHO or Bahrain will be exempted from the mandatory 10-day quarantine and will not need to present a pre-arrival negative RTPCR certificate.

Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine that has been approved for emergency use by the WHO. It is formulated from an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 antigen and is presented in single-dose and multidose vials. The approval by Bahrain adds to the growing list of countries that have approved Covaxin, which now includes more than 96 nations.

Covaxin efficacy and safety data

Covaxin, an inactivated vaccine, was found to be 77.8% effective against COVID-19, and 93.4% effective against severe cases of COVID-19. The vaccine was developed by Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).

The vaccine was granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in November 2021, and has been approved for emergency use in 97 countries, including Bahrain. The decision to approve the vaccine in Bahrain was based on a careful evaluation of data provided by the manufacturer, carried out by the country's National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) Clinical Trials Committee and the Ministry of Health's Immunization Committee.

Covaxin has been found to be highly effective, well-tolerated, and presenting no safety concerns, according to a study published in The Lancet. The vaccine induces a "robust antibody response" two weeks after two doses are administered. The study also noted that Covaxin had a 77.8% efficacy rate against symptomatic Covid-19 patients.

Covaxin is an inactivated virus-based vaccine, developed using whole virion inactivated vero cell-derived platform technology. It targets the viral spike protein and contains a dead virus that cannot infect people but can still trigger an immune response. Inactivated vaccines do not replicate and therefore do not cause pathological effects. Covaxin also contains adjuvants toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonists and aluminium hydroxide, which prompt a strong immune response.

The overall efficacy rates claimed by Bharat Biotech include 63% efficacy for asymptomatic cases, 78% for mild, moderate, and severe cases, and 65% efficacy for the Delta variant. The vaccine was also found to be 93% effective in preventing severe Covid-19 cases.

Covaxin is safe for adults and older adults. However, people under the age of 18 are barred from taking it, and there is insufficient data available regarding the safety profile for pregnant women. The vaccine is not recommended for individuals who are allergic to any of its components, and immunocompromised individuals can take it if they have no contraindication to vaccination.

Covaxin approved for 18-year-olds and above

Bahrain has approved the emergency use of Covaxin, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Indian company Bharat Biotech. The approval was announced by the Indian Embassy in Bahrain on 12 November 2021.

The vaccine will be available in Bahrain for those aged 18 years and above. This is in line with the age group for which it is being used in India.

The approval follows a careful evaluation of data provided by the manufacturer, carried out by the National Health Regulatory Authority's (NHRA) Clinical Trials Committee and the Ministry of Health's Immunization Committee. More than 26,000 people participated in the vaccine's clinical trials, which established that the two-dose regimen vaccine is 77.8% effective against COVID-19 and 93.4% effective against severe cases of the disease. Safety data indicated a low incidence of adverse effects.

The approval is in line with the Bahrain government's guidelines, under which travellers who have taken a COVID-19 vaccine approved either by the Bahrain government or the World Health Organization (WHO) will not be required to quarantine upon arrival.

Covaxin approval process in Bahrain

Covaxin, an inactivated vaccine, was approved for emergency use in Bahrain in November 2021. The approval came after the World Health Organization (WHO) granted approval for the vaccine's emergency use earlier that month. The vaccine was developed by Indian multinational biotechnology company Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The approval was announced by the Indian Embassy in Bahrain, which stated that the Kingdom of Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) had approved the emergency use of the vaccine for those aged 18 and above. The NHRA's decision followed a careful evaluation of data provided by the manufacturer, carried out by the NHRA's Clinical Trials Committee and the Ministry of Health's Immunization Committee. The vaccine was found to be 77.8% effective against COVID-19 and 93.4% effective against severe cases of the disease. The safety data indicated a low incidence of adverse effects.

The approval of Covaxin by Bahrain's NHRA means that passengers travelling from India to Bahrain with valid COVID-19 vaccination certificates issued in India with a scannable QR code for a vaccine approved by the WHO or the Kingdom of Bahrain would be exempted from the mandatory 10-day quarantine and pre-arrival negative RTPCR certificate requirements.

With Bahrain's approval, Covaxin and Covishield, the two India-manufactured vaccines, have now been approved for emergency use in 96-97 countries.

Covaxin and Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority

On November 11, 2021, Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) approved the emergency use of Covaxin, an Indian-made COVID-19 vaccine. The NHRA's decision was based on a careful evaluation of data provided by the manufacturer, Bharat Biotech, and carried out by the NHRA's Clinical Trials Committee and the Ministry of Health's Immunization Committee. More than 26,000 people participated in the vaccine trials, which showed that the two-dose vaccine is 77.8% effective against COVID-19 and 93.4% effective against severe cases of the virus.

Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine, which means it uses a form of the virus that has been treated so that it doesn't cause disease. The vaccine is presented in single-dose and multidose vials of 5, 10, and 20 doses. It is formulated from an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 antigen. The vaccine is produced by Bharat Biotech, an Indian multinational biotechnology company.

The approval of Covaxin by Bahrain's NHRA is in line with the country's guidelines, which state that travellers who have been vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine approved by either the NHRA or the World Health Organization (WHO) will not be required to quarantine upon arrival in Bahrain. This means that passengers travelling from India to Bahrain with valid COVID vaccination certificates issued in India with a scannable QR code for a vaccine approved by the WHO or Bahrain will be exempt from the mandatory 10-day quarantine and pre-arrival negative RTPCR certificate.

The approval of Covaxin by Bahrain's NHRA is significant because it adds to the growing list of countries that have approved the vaccine. As of November 12, 2021, more than 96 countries had recognised Covaxin, including Canada, the US, Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Russia, and Switzerland. The approval of Covaxin by Bahrain and other countries is expected to facilitate international travel for people vaccinated with Covaxin.

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