New Delhi: The Government of Australia on Saturday recognized the Indian Vaccine ‘Covishield’ after a long time. Visiting Trade Minister of Australia Dan Tehan said that “Australia is warmly looking forward to welcoming back the Indian students to Australia as Capital Canberra gives nod to Covishield for the International travelers,”
After around 18 months, Australia is going to open its borders from November 1. The government of Australia restricted the entry of International travelers due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Tehan speaking to reporters in Delhi said the Australian side giving go-ahead for Covishield, means the pathway for our Indian International students to return to Australia is there again.
Australia’s department of health’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has declared the Covishield (AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India) vaccine as a ‘recognized vaccine’ for purposes of travel into Australia.
TGA in its initial assessment of the data on the protection offered by the India-made vaccine advised it for travel purposes, along with China’s Coronavac (Sinovac).TGA is responsible for regulating the supply, import, export, manufacturing, and advertising of therapeutic goods in the country.
People who have received vaccines not recognized by the TGA, or who are unvaccinated, will be required to undertake 14 days of managed quarantine on arrival. The problems faced by Indian students were raised by the Indian external affairs minister with his Australian counterpart, Minister Payne during the 2+2 dialogue in Delhi in early September.
(_Vinayak Barot)
