Active cases decline, recoveries go up: Data sharing on with WHO to give recognition to Covaxin, says govt

The WHO approval holds importance as there is a discussion about granting vaccine passports only to those given WHO-approved vaccines.

Express Web Desk | Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi | June 4, 2021: Covaxin is developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).

The Centre on Friday said that data sharing is going on with WHO to give recognition to Covaxin. “We have been working with both Bharat Biotech and the WHO to make it happen. There is data sharing going on and we are very keen that this milestone is achieved as soon as possible. We are pursuing it,” NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul said in response to a question during a press briefing.

The WHO approval holds importance as there is a discussion about granting vaccine passports only to those given WHO-approved vaccines. Bharat Biotech had earlier said it expects approval for emergency use listing by July-September.

Meanwhile, the health ministry also said that almost 68 per cent decline has been noted in Covid-19 cases since the highest reported peak of cases on May 7. There has also been a decrease in active cases by more than 21 lakh since the peak of active cases on May 10, it said, adding that 377 districts are reporting less than 5 per cent case positivity rate.

India recorded over 1.32 lakh new covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Friday, taking the country’s total infections to over 2.85 crore. Out of the total cases, active cases further declined to over 16 lakh and the total number of recoveries went up to over 2.65 crore. With 2,713 new deaths, the toll is now at 3,40,702.