More Than 40 Countries Now Approved Covishield For International Travel.
Among many countries now, France allowed international travellers who have received the Covishield, AstraZeneca’s Indian-manufactured vaccine, into the country starting last Sunday. The move to accept visitors vaccinated with AstraZeneca’s vaccine made by India’s Serum Institute came after a global outcry over the fact that the European Unions COVID-19 certificate only recognizes AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in Europe.
At least 40 countries approve the Covishield vaccine for international travel to their country, which includes nine European nations. Recently, the EU launched the “Green Pass” programme, which would allow travellers who have been vaccinated with an approved set of vaccines to travel inside the EU’s 27-country zone. The nine countries’ acceptance was a “national” decision made by the states, not by the European Union, which is based in Brussels.
List of countries giving recognition to Covishield for international travel:
• Germany
• Slovenia
• Austria
• Greece
• Ireland
• Estonia
• Spain
• Iceland
• Switzerland
• Netherlands
• Afghanistan
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Bhutan
• Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Cabo Verde
• Canada
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Dominica
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Hungary
• Jamaica
• Lebanon
• Maldives
• Morocco
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Nigeria
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Seychelles
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Suriname
• The Bahamas
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Ukraine
India had kicked off its vaccination drive on January 16 this year, with the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine ‘Covishield’, locally manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and Covaxin, made by Bharat Biotech. India has also been pushing for international recognition and approval of Covaxin. With the World Health Organization (WHO) beginning a review process for Covaxin, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech had said on Monday that it intends to acquire an emergency use listing (EUL) from the global body as soon as possible.
EU and ‘Green Pass’ :
After the EU introduced the green pass, a travel pass between European nations for persons vaccinated with one of four vaccines: Comirnaty by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Vaxzervria by AstraZeneca-Oxford, and Janssen by Johnson & Johnson, there were concerns in India.
Despite the fact that Covishield is the Indian equivalent of AstraZeneca vaccine, it was not included in the EU green pass list. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, which manufactures Covishield, has stated that the issue has been raised at the highest levels and that he hopes to resolve it quickly.
The EU green card will allow smooth travel across the EU’s 27 member countries. Countries should not impose additional travel restrictions, such as mandatory quarantine, on persons who travel with a green pass, which is effectively a certificate of immunisation.
India has urged EU member states to recognise Covishield and Covaxin on an individual basis and treat vaccinated Indians equally to those vaccinated in EU countries.