Amid concerns that Covaxin, India's homegrown vaccine, may not be effective against the problematic variants of Covid-19, the United States' National Institute of Health (NIH) has found out that the vaccine effectively generates antibodies to neutralize both the Alpha and Delta variants of the novel coronavirus.

As reported by Prasar Bharati, the study has found out that Covaxin neutralizes the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.617 (Delta) variants effectively. "I am pleased that a novel vaccine adjuvant developed in the United States with NIAID support is part of an efficacious COVID-19 vaccine available to people in India," Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has been quoted as saying.

Last week, an unpublished interim report that studied the phase 3 trial of Covaxin claimed that the vaccine is 78% efficacious against symptomatic disease and 100% efficacious against severe cases such as hospitalization. Covaxin has 70% efficacy against asymptomatic infection, it was found.

As of now, Covaxin is not recognized for international travel. Conveying the concern of international Indian travellers, a Twitter user wrote, "If it is effective against Delta variant, why don't CDC approve it as an alternative for the international travellers? I got both my doses of Covaxin and my college still does not approves it. Hope it gets a nod from either CDC or WHO soon."