India urges European Union to accept Covishield, Covaxin or face mandatory quarantine
The EU countries accept only the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency, which are Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen. But Covishield, which is the Indian version of AstraZeneca, is yet to get their clearance.
FollowIndia has urged the European Union member states to exempt those persons who have taken Made in India Covishield and Covaxin from travel restrictions within the EU.Â
As per the sources in the government establishment, India has also asked the EU member states to accept the vaccination certificate issued through the CoWIN portal, an app indigenously developed by India.Â
"The genuineness of such vaccination certification can be authenticated on the CoWIN portal," the sources said.Â
The 27-member European bloc is launching the European Union Digital Covid Certificate from July 1. The certificate is meant to facilitate safe free movement during the Covid-19 pandemic within the EU.Â
The sources further added that India has also conveyed to EU Member States that New Delhi will institute a reciprocal policy for recognition of the EU Digital Covid Certificate.Â
"Upon notification of Covishield and Covaxin for inclusion in the EU Digital Covid Certificate and recognition of Indian CoWIN vaccination certificates, Indian health authorities would reciprocally exempt the concerned EU Member State for exemption from mandatory quarantine all those persons carrying EU Digital Covid Certificate," sources added.
Stating that it was not a pre-condition to travel, European Union envoy to India and Bhutan Ugo Astuto clarified that there is no "ban" on Covishield.
"It is to clarify there is no banning on Covishield, we have set up in place a new system of digital COVID certificate which is meant to facilitate travel within the European Union," Astuto said.Â
"Basically, this certificate is proof that a person is vaccinated against COVID or received a negative test or recovered from COVID-19. So this is meant as a facilitator but it is not a precondition for travel," he added
NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCoronaÂ
