Indian Covishield vaccine gets clearance from 7 EU Nations
7 European Nations have given clearance to Covishield vaccine for the Green pass.
As per sources, Seven European Union countries - Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland and Spain - and Switzerland have cleared the Serum Institute of India's Covishield for the Green pass.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the EU's top medical body, has approved only four vaccines so far -
Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty,
US pharma giant Moderna's Covid vaccine,
AstraZeneca shot manufactured and sold in Europe as Vaxzervia, and
Johnson & Johnson's Janssen.
Only those who've been immunised with these shots were granted vaccination passports, and allowed to travel hassle-free amid the pandemic.
Manufactured in India by the world's largest manufacture Serum Institute of India, in partnership with the Oxford University and AstraZeneca, Covishield is not on the list. Covaxin, manufactured by Bharat Biotech's is also not on the EMA list.
The EU says "member states may decide to extend this (the certificate) also to EU travellers that received another vaccine"
On Wednesday, sources of foreign ministry said "India will begin a reciprocal policy when it comes to exemption from quarantine. This would mean that unless the European Union accepts Covishield and Covaxin certificates, their certificates will not be accepted in the country and people from EU will face mandatory quarantine upon arrival in India."
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) stated that it has not received any application from Serum Institute and Covishield does not have a marketing authorisation in the EU. However, it said that the member countries of the union are free to include Covishield in their Green Pass, as Covishield is approved by the World Health Organization.
Last month, the Indian government had opposed to the idea of "vaccine passports" at a meeting with health ministers from G7 countries. "Expressed India's concern and strong opposition to "Green pass" at this juncture of the pandemic. With vaccine coverage as a percentage of population in developing countries still low compared to developed countries, such an initiative could prove to be highly discriminatory." Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had tweeted after the meeting.
