After reciprocity nudge, 7 EU nations to allow Indians with Covishield shots

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 1

Pressed by nations, including India, whose citizens have taken Covishield vaccine shots, nine European countries, seven of them EU members, have decided to permit them entry.

Switzerland too gives clearance

EU members Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Ireland, Spain and Estonia plus Switzerland and Iceland have allowed entry to those vaccinated with Covishield.

EU recognises 4 vaccines, none from india

The EU recognises only four vaccines and none of those are produced in India. It recognises AstraZeneca doses made in Europe, US, South Korea and China, but not those made in India.

However, sources cautioned against panic and pointed out that the EU (European Union) Covid digital certificate had a six-week phase-in period, meaning it would be insisted upon by all EU nations for crossing their international borders sometime in mid-August. A large number of them have still not opened their borders to Indians.

The Serum Institute of India (SII), they pointed out, was confident that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) would recognise the AstraZeneca doses made in India. It currently recognises AstraZeneca doses made in Europe, US, South Korea and

China, but not those manufactured by the SII, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. The EU digital certificate, which recognises only four vaccines and none of those produced in India, is recognised by all 27 EU member states, plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Of these 31 countries, nine have decided to accept Covishield as and when they open their borders to citizens of countries hit by deadly Covid variants. India is one of the countries on the list. These countries are EU members Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Ireland, Spain and Estonia, plus Switzerland and Iceland.

India and the powerful 55-nation African Union have called upon the EU authorities to accept the Indian version of AstraZeneca vaccine called Covishield. A similar demand has been raised by some West Asian countries such as the UAE. These countries had received Covishield through commercial contracts or as part of a WHO-sponsored vaccine distribution program called Covax.

The EU said it’s working to ensure its digital certificate is compatible with similar products in non-EU countries.