Kochi: An Indian expatriate working in Saudi Arabia has filed a petition in the Kerala High Court seeking permission to be fully vaccinated against Covaxin with Covishield.
Girikumar Thekkan Kunnumpurath (50), a resident of Kannur city in Kerala, filed the petition saying that Covaxin is not recognized in Saudi Arabia and as per his visa condition, he has to return to Saudi Arabia before August 30 or he will have to leave his job. You have to wash your hands.
He told in his petition that he had returned to India in January when the second wave of corona virus hit Saudi Arabia. When the Indian government allowed vaccines for people over the age of 45, they registered on the Coin portal using their passport details.
“He received the first dose of Covaxin on April 17th, and the second a month later. Only after receiving Covaxin did he learn that it was not approved by the Saudi government. If the authorities had informed the public about the non-recognition earlier of Covaxin, he did not take it. He never knew that his decision would put his job abroad in jeopardy,” the petition reads.
The High Court has sought the opinion of the Central Government in this matter. The next hearing will be on August 9.
Meanwhile, in a positive development for Bharat Biotech, Covaxin has received a Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance from the Hungarian authorities.
Bharat Biotech said that approval has been received from the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition Hungary, which is GMP certified, for the manufacture of Covaxin.
Covaxin is one of four vaccines approved by India’s drug regulator. The other three vaccines used in the nationwide vaccination campaign are Covishield, Sputnik V and Moderna.
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