TGA adds vaccines manufactured in India and China to list of ‘recognised’ jabs

Two new Covid-19 vaccines have been officially recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration today.

Two new vaccines will be officially recognised in Australia from today as the Therapeutic Goods Administration announces the addition of Covaxin and Sinopharm to its accepted vaccine list.

Covaxin – a Covid-19 vaccine manufactured in India – and Sinopharm – manufactured in China – will now be “recognised” for the purpose of establishing a traveller’s vaccination status.

This recognition is for travellers entering Australia who are aged 12 and over and have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 and over with Sinopharm.

The TGA said its decision to accept the two new vaccines was made in response to additional information demonstrating the effectiveness of Covaxin and Sinphram.

“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,” a TGA spokesman said.

Travellers entering Australia who are aged 12 and over and have been vaccinated with Covaxin will be recognised as fully vaccinated by ATAGI. Picture: Prakash SINGH / AFP

Travellers entering Australia who are aged between 18 and 60 and have been vaccinated with Sinopharm will be recognised as fully vaccinated by ATAGI. Picture: Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP

The addition of the two vaccines will means many citizens of China, India and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region will now be considered fully vaccinated upon entry into Australia.

“This will have significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia,” a TGA spokesman said.

International students will need to wait at least seven days after their second dose of Covaxin or Sinopharm to be legally regarded as fully vaccinated in Australia.

The two doses of the vaccine will also need to be at least 14 days apart, according to ATAGI’s standards.

The TGA said the recognition of the two new vaccines would have ‘significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia’. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

While Covaxin and Sinopharm will now be officially “recognised” by the TGA, this does not mean the vaccine brands are registered for approved use in Australia.

Australians will continue to receive AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines only.