China says take our vaccine for travel visa, but there is no Chinese vaccine in India
By Asianet Newsable English | First Published Mar 16, 2021, 9:59 AM ISTThe Chinese government has set a bizarre condition to allow Indians to visit the country as they did in the pre-pandemic era.
The Chinese government has set a bizarre condition to allow Indians to visit the country as they did in the pre-pandemic era.
The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi noted that people going to China for employment contracts, work resumption and other relevant activities will have to first take the Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine.
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The same rule applies to people visiting holders of Chinese Permanent Resident's Permit or those visiting with the purpose of family reunion, visiting relatives and other relevant humanitarian emergencies.
But here's the catch. There is no Chinese vaccine being administered in India currently.
Beijing says that Chinese missions in India will provide the visa to persons who have taken the Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine and hold the certificates of vaccination.
India has been vaccinating its population and helping other nations with the same using the two vaccines it has approved -- Serum Institute of India's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
The Chinese vaccines Sinovac and Sinopharm have so far show lesser efficacy rates than the Indian vaccines. World Health Organisation's regulatory evaluation of the two Chinese vaccines is expected to be completed by March-end at the earliest.
Till earlier this month, all passengers taking the charter flights or special flights from India to China were required to take double nucleic acid tests and one IgM anti-body test of Covid-19, in ICMR-authorised labs with the samples of the first nucleic acid test collected within 72 hours (3 days) before boarding, and the samples of the second nucleic acid test and the IgM anti-body test collected within 36 hours before boarding.
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