According to reports citing official rules, travellers vaccinated with Covishield, an AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine manufactured in India, may not be eligible for the European Union’s “Green Pass” – an immunity document meant to ease travel within and to the bloc.
The European Union had previously stated that member states could issue certificates regardless of the type of Covid-19 vaccine, but the technical specifications indicate that the pass will only be valid for “vaccines that have received EU-wide marketing authorization.”
At the moment, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved four vaccines that EU member states can use to issue certificates. Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Moderna, Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca-Oxford), and Janssen are among them (Johnson & Johnson).
The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines Vaxzevria and Covishield are both AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines. The EMA has not yet approved the India-made Covishield, but the Vaxzevria version of the Astrazeneca shot, which is produced and manufactured in the UK or other European locations, has, according to reports.
The majority of Indians have received Covishield, which is made in Pune by the Serum Institute of India.
However, it is unknown how significant an impact these certificates will have on Indian travellers. The certificate is primarily intended for EU citizens, but it is possible for citizens from other countries to obtain one if they can persuade authorities in the EU country they are visiting that they are eligible.
Covishield is also at the heart of the WHO’s Covax programme, which aims to ensure that vaccines are distributed fairly to low- and middle-income countries.
While the EMA has approved these four vaccines, countries within the 27-member bloc can accept other vaccines as part of their own travel rules, according to the reports.
The EU has been working on a joint digital travel certificate for those who have been vaccinated, tested, or recovered from the virus for months. People will be able to travel between European countries without having to quarantine or undergo additional coronavirus tests thanks to the free certificates, which will include a QR code with advanced security features.
Several EU countries have already begun using the system, including Spain, Germany, Greece, and Poland. The rest are expected to start using it July 1.
