‘Covishield vaccine receivers may be denied entry to EU’

Activists hold placards reading patents kill, free vaccine and waive patents during their march to European Union mission in Kiev in a rally in support of vaccination action called, Vaccinate Our World. Pic/AFP

As the European Union (EU) is reopening borders to non-EU tourists, especially those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, travellers inoculated with the Indian-made AstraZeneca vaccine, or Covishield, could face problems when entering the bloc, the European Commission suggested on Friday.

While the AstraZeneca vaccine produced in Europe, branded Vaxzevira, has been greenlighted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Indian version Covishield has not even requested for the market authorisation, according to Stefan De Keersmaecker, the Commission's spokesman for health issues.

In total, five million doses were imported from India, but health authorities said they were not called Covishield and considered the same product as those produced in north Wales and Staffordshire, according to the BBC.

"Of course, the Covishield manufacturer is always free to request the authorisation of this vaccine, but for the time being, it is not the case," said Keersmaecker.

An EU-wide Digital Covid Certificate officially entered into force on Thursday, allowing people to travel within the EU-plus area without restrictions if they can either prove to have been fully vaccinated with the EMA-approved vaccines, or have tested negative or recovered from the infection.

Meanwhile, EU member states have the right to accept travellers vaccinated with jabs approved by the WHO, among which is Covishield. Media reports said only a small number of the 27 member states have announced the acceptance.

In response to concerns that people from the UK may be denied entry when travelling to the EU, Keersmaecker said the European Commission is working to solve the problem.

Aus' vax rollout phenomenal failure: Ex PM

Canberra: Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who served as Prime Minister from 2015 to 2018, said that Australia was "way behind" comparable countries. "I can't think of a bigger black and white failure of public administration than this," he told the media.

18,39,48,307
TOTAL Number OF CORONAVIRUS

CASES IN THE WORLD

39,81,965
Number OF DEATHS WORLDWIDE

16,83,59,910
Number OF RECOVERED PATIENTS

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