New Delhi has been facing off by the reticence of the European Union in accepting Indian-made vaccines for its ‘vaccination passport’ Sources in the Department of Foreign Affairs said India will start reciprocal policy with regard to quarantine exemption.
That would mean that their certificates will not be accepted in India and EU citizens are required to undergo quarantine once they arrive to India unless the European Union accepts Covishield and Covaxin certificates.. Sources said that it has to be notified in its Digital Covid certificate to the European Union that Covishield and Covaxin.
Under the new “Green Pass” system, it is unlikely that people with Covishield’s vaccinations will have the right to travel to EU Member States. Only vaccines that are approved by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen are accepted by the EU countries.
However, Covishield, AstraZeneca’s Indian version, is still in need of clarification.
Ugo Astuto, the European Union ambassador to India, said that each vaccine approval process must be conducted on its own merit, asked about the divergence between ANI and ANI news agencies.
Sources from the Serum Institute said they applied, via their European partner, AstraZeneca, for the node of the EU to Covishield. However, the European Medicines Agency said it did not receive Covishield’s application for approval.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar addressed with a top EU official on incorporating Covishield into the Vaccination Passport. “The production and access of vaccines were discussed. Used a permit to travel to Europe for “Covishield.”
Will follow up, “Mr Jaishankar has been tweeting. Until now, travel restrictions are limited to only those who are vaccinated with one of the four vaccines – Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty, Moderna, Vaxzervria, AstraZeneca-Oxford & Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen.
The nations that import Covishield will face legal challenges without the approval of the EMA. Indigenously produced Covaxin awaits WHO authorisation to use emergencies.
