Highlights
- Australia now recognises Covaxin, Covishield, Coronavac and BBIBP-CorV for travel purposes
- Travellers with these vaccines will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia
- It will help in return of international students, skilled and unskilled workers
The TGA has recognised Covaxin for travellers aged 12 and over and BBIBP-CorV for people aged between 18 and 60.
"Recognition of Covaxin and BBIBP-CorV along with the previously announced recognition of Coronavac and Covishield 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," the TGA said in a statement.
"This will have significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia."
The announcement came a week after SBS Hindi highlighted the plight of Australian citizens Archana and Yadagiri Kunarapu, who took Covaxin before returning to their Canberra home in June this year.
"It's a big relief. Now my wife (Archana) and I can go to work peacefully as many workplaces are mandating vaccines for their employees," Mr Kunarapu told SBS Hindi.
"We will update our details to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and get the vaccine certificate," he said.
The couple plans to take a booster dose before a short trip to New South Wales for Christmas.
Yadagiri Kunarapu and his wife took Covaxin before they returned to Australia in June. Source: Supplied by Yadagiri Kunarapu
The TGA said manufacturers of the Covaxin and BBIBP-CorV vaccines have provided them with additional information.
"In recent weeks, the TGA has obtained additional information demonstrating 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," it said.
