The World Health Organisation (<a href="https://www.who.int/" target="_blank">WHO</a>) will meet on Tuesday to discuss the long-awaited fate of India’s first homemade vaccine. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/2021/04/28/fauci-covaxin-found-to-neutralise-the-617-variant-found-in-india/" target="_blank">Covaxin</a> has been used in India since its approval for emergency use <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/india-approves-locally-produced-vaccine-by-bharat-biotech-1.1139580" target="_blank">in January</a>. It accounts for about 11 per cent of total shots administered in the country. Its manufacturer, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2021/08/08/why-covid-19-is-a-boon-to-drug-companies-in-one-of-the-hardest-hit-countries/" target="_blank">Bharat Biotech</a>, first submitted an expression of interest in applying to the WHO for emergency use in April. So why has it taken so long for the organisation to consider the application? <i>The National</i> explains. The WHO defended the long wait recently, saying it cannot cut corners when considering applications. It said it was seeking one additional piece of information from Bharat Biotech, which it expected to receive imminently. “We are aware that many people are waiting for WHO’s recommendation for <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/coronavirus-india-s-covaxin-found-to-be-81-effective-against-covid-19-in-phase-3-trials-1.1177417" target="_blank">Covaxin</a> to be included in the #COVID19 Emergency Use Listing, but we cannot cut corners — before recommending a product for emergency use, we must evaluate it thoroughly to make sure it is safe and effective,” the WHO said in a series of tweets last week. “Bharat Biotech — the manufacturer of Covaxin — has been submitting data to WHO on a rolling basis and WHO experts have reviewed these data. “WHO is expecting one additional piece of information from the company today. "When the information provided addresses all questions raised, WHO and the Technical Advisory Group will complete the assessment and come to a final recommendation whether to grant EUL to the vaccine,” it added. It is not known what data was missing. The vaccine has been approved in eight other countries: Guyana, Iran, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Paraguay, Philippines and Zimbabwe. An application for emergency use was rejected by the US Food and Drug Administration for <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/2021/03/01/indias-prime-minister-narendra-modi-receives-first-dose-of-covaxin-shot/" target="_blank">Covaxin</a> in June due to the submission of incomplete trial data. Travel will become a lot easier for those who have had the shot. Because <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/travel/covid-19-all-the-countries-open-to-vaccinated-travellers-1.1162008" target="_blank">most countries require travellers to be vaccinated</a>, and they generally only recognise vaccines approved by themselves or the WHO, options for those inoculated with the Covaxin jab are extremely limited. WHO approval will mean the vaccine will be recognised in more countries. Approval would also greatly expand the number of vaccines available to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/covax-programme-falls-200-million-doses-behind-target-1.1235299" target="_blank">Covax</a>, which aims to provide equitable access to vaccines for poor nations. The UN and the WHO recently launched a plan to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2021/10/07/un-aims-to-vaccinate-40-of-humanity-by-years-end/" target="_blank">fully vaccinate 40 per cent of the world’s population</a> against Covid-19 by the end of the year and 70 per cent by the middle of 2022. Last week, it emerged India had delayed committing supplies to Covax after WHO said it would not cut corners in approving the vaccine. The manufacturer halted exports of the vaccine in April as the delta variant took hold but resumed them this month. It was found to be <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/coronavirus-india-s-covaxin-found-to-be-81-effective-against-covid-19-in-phase-3-trials-1.1177417" target="_blank">81 per cent effective</a> in phase 3 trials but is <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/some-covid-19-vaccines-slightly-less-effective-against-the-indian-strain-research-suggests-1.1221433" target="_blank">slightly less against delta</a>, at 65 per cent.