The UK government has said that COVID-19 vaccine certification from all countries must meet minimum criteria. That it is working with India on a phased approach to its international travel norms.
It follows Covishield, the Serum Institute of India manufactured Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Added as eligible to an expanded UK travel advisory on Wednesday.
But with India’s vaccine certification not on a list of 18 approved countries. Indian travellers to the UK will continue to be treated as non-vaccinated and therefore required to quarantine for 10 days on arrival.
Following much confusion over this process. UK government sources said on Wednesday night that additions or changes to the approved country listings kept under regular consideration. Though there was no further clarity on the required criteria for approving a country’s vaccine certification.
As part of our recently expanded inbound vaccination policy. We recognise the following vaccines Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford AstraZeneca, Moderna and Janssen (J&J), for the purposes of international travel. This now includes the formulations AstraZeneca Covishield, AstraZeneca Vaxzevria and Moderna Takeda, a UK government spokesperson said.
Our top priority remains protecting public health, and reopening travel in a safe and sustainable way, which is why vaccine certification from all countries must meet the minimum criteria taking into account public health and wider considerations. We continue to work with international partners, including India, to roll out our phased approach,the spokesperson said.
Travellers must take a pre-departure test, not fully vaccinated. Not on a list of 18 approved countries on the UK government’s recognised list. Pay for day two and day eight PCR tests after arrival in England. Self-isolate for 10 days, with an option to test to release after five days following a negative PCR test.
With reference to an outcry over India’s vaccination certification not recognised despite. Covishield is one of the two main COVID-19 vaccines in India. UK government sources would only say that the rollout of its inbound vaccination programme to other countries.
However, despite the registered Covishield within the UK’s eligible vaccine formulations, it won’t offer any advantage to Covishield-vaccinated Indian travellers planning a UK visit.
The Indian government has expressed its strong condemnation of such a move. Also warned of reciprocal measures if vaccinated travellers from India continued to be treated in a “discriminatory” way.
US President Joe Biden at a Global COVID summit hosted on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that international travel should make easier through mutual recognition of vaccine certificates.
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