EU’s market authorisation for Covishield to include on-site verification

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 30

Indian diplomats are working with individual member states of the European Union (EU) to ensure that citizens vaccinated with Covishield do not face problems on entry if and when they open their borders to nations hit by deadly Covid variants.

Switzerland, Germany, and Iceland are among the EU and non-EU states that have decided to permit entry to Indians vaccinated with the AstraZeneca version made by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

The EU Green Pass comes into effect from July 1 and lists four approved vaccines that do not include India-made Covishield, which, however, has been approved by the World Health Organisation.

Confirming that a double shot of Covishield is fully recognised by Germany as valid proof of anti-Covid vaccination, its envoy to India Walter Lindner pointed out that this does not modify existing travel or visa restrictions for travelers from areas of concern or virus variants areas, one of which is India.

The problem with the EU is that different countries have different rules on vaccinations and approvals. France has also told Indian diplomats that it is actively working to permit entry to Covishield vaccinated persons. Besides India, France would be keen to facilitate the entry of citizens from many of its former colonies in African which received SII’s Covishield as part of the global Covax initiative.

However, Italy has been unable to do much despite External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s presence in Rome this week. This is because Italy has banned the use of Vaxzevria (an AstraZeneca version) for the under-60s after the death of a youngster.

Serum Institute of India needs to apply for the inclusion of Covishield, which means an extended process involving site verification.

India has also offered a reciprocal policy to recognise EU digital certificate for exempting quarantine in India for EU travellers. Seeks similar exemption in EU digital certificate for Indians who have taken Covaxin and Covishield.