During discussions between Indian and EU officials on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Italy on Tuesday, India will raise the issue of the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) approval of the Serum Institute of India’s Covishield vaccine. Those who have been vaccinated with Covishield, an AstraZeneca vaccine produced in India by SII, are not eligible for the EU Digital Covid certificate or “green pass.” It’s an immunity document that makes it easier to travel within and outside the EU’s 27 members. It will be operational by July 1st.
The only four Covid-19 vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are Pfizer/Comirnaty, BioNTech’s Moderna, AstraZeneca’s Vaxzervria, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen. Serum Institute of India in Pune manufactures Covishield, which is a version of AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine.
Serum Institute of India’s chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla said on Monday he has taken up the matter “at the highest level” to ensure Indians don’t face any travel restrictions. “I realise that a lot of Indians who have taken Covishield are facing issues with travel to the EU. I assure everyone, I have taken this up at the highest levels and hope to resolve this matter soon, both with regulators and at a diplomatic level with countries,” Poonawalla tweeted.
The Serum Institute of India has applied to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for approval of Covishield, a Covid-19 vaccine, for the European Union’s Green Pass programme.
What is a Digital Covid Certificate issued by the European Union?
An EU Digital Covid Certificate is electronic proof that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, tested negative for Covid-19, or recovered from Covid-19. The certificate is available in both digital and paper formats, includes a QR code, is free of charge, is available in both the national language and English, is safe and secure, and is valid throughout the EU.
What is the procedure for obtaining the certificate?
The certificate is issued by national authorities; for example, it could be issued by test centres or health authorities, or it could be issued directly through an eHealth portal.
The digital version can be downloaded and stored on a mobile device, and people can also request a paper copy. Both versions will include a QR code that contains critical information as well as a digital signature that verifies the certificate’s authenticity.
What impact will it have on freedom of movement?
The EU Digital Covid Certificate will be accepted in all EU member states and will help to ensure that current restrictions are lifted in a coordinated manner. The holder of an EU Digital Covid Certificate should be exempt from any travel restrictions in principle, and member states should refrain from imposing additional travel restrictions on them.
They have the authority to prevent the holder from travelling if it is necessary and proportionate to protect public health. In such a case – for example, in response to new variants of concern – the member state would be required to notify the Commission and all other member states, as well as justify its decision.
What is the purpose of the certificate?
To prevent falsification, the EU Digital Covid Certificate includes a QR code with a digital signature. The QR code is scanned and the signature is verified when the certificate is checked. Every issuing body (such as a hospital, a testing facility, or a health authority) has its own digital signature key. In each country, all of this information is kept in a secure database.
The European Commission has created a portal through which all certificate signatures in the EU can be verified. The certificate holder’s personal information does not pass through the gateway because it is not required to verify the digital signature. In addition, the European Commission aided member states.
