(VOVWORLD) - The World Health Organization on Friday approved for emergency use the COVID-19 vaccine Covovax produced by the Serum Institute of India under licence from Novavax. The decision paves the way for the inclusion of Covovax in the United Nations-backed COVAX mechanism to provide vaccine to poorer countries around the world.
This is the 9th vaccine that the WHO has issued an emergency use listing. This means Novavax's vaccine will be accepted by countries that only accept tourists who have got WHO-recognized vaccines.
Covovax has been thought to play an important role in boosting vaccine supply in developing countries, because of its relatively easier storage requirements than some other COVID-19 vaccines that require deep cold storage. It requires two doses and is stable at 2 to 8 °C refrigerated temperatures, according to the WHO.