[Covaxin recognition] "Let us wait for WHO decision," Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday said that it will wait for a decision by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the recognition of Covaxin before considering a petition to permit people to voluntarily get vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Covishield vaccine even if they have been fully vaccinated with Covaxin (Kartik Seth v. Union of India)..A Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud observed that as per newspaper reports, Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer of Covaxin, has applied to WHO for recognition. "Newspapers have been telling us that Bharat Biotech has made a representation to WHO and a decision will be taken in this. Lets wait for the WHO authorisation and have it after Diwali. Let is wait for a little while," the Bench which also comprised Justice BV Nagarathna remarked.The matter was posted for hearing again after Diwali..The plea filed by Supreme Court lawyer Kartik Seth pointed out that since Covaxin is not recognised by WHO, individuals who have been administered the same are not being permitted to travel to many foreign countries.Hence, individuals who voluntarily at their own costs and risk wish to get Covishield even after having received two doses of Covaxin, should not be prevented from doing so.Covaxin-administered individuals should be allowed to get re-vaccinated after three months of the second dose, since Covaxin has been unable to get WHO approval for emergency use for the last five months, the petitioner prayed..Even as WHO approval remains pending, several countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada etc. have been treating Indian citizens vaccinated with Covaxin as un-vaccinated, the plea filed through Advocate Shriya Gilhotra said. Thus, those who wish to travel to such countries for emergency purposes and other personal reasons have been left stranded, it was submitted.The plea also stated that once Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he was vaccinated with Covaxin, the population which follows him ardently also got vaccinated by the same.Those who were not allowed to have a choice of vaccine and got vaccinated with Covaxin are apparent victims of the entire vaccination campaign of the country, it was contended..The petition also sought directions to the Centre to release official data, record, timeline and reasons for delay in approval of Covaxin and reasons for India approving Covaxin at a time when the results of third phase trials of the vaccine remained pending.