New Delhi: After questions were raised by India, Britain changed the travel advisory to include Covishield in the list of accepted vaccines. However, the bottlenecks on UK travel for Indian travelers are not completely over. After reaching the UK, the passengers will have to get tested for Covid and also follow the quarantine rules. Because till now the country has not approved the CoWIN certificate. Talks are going on between the two countries regarding this matter.
According to the media report, as per the new guidelines issued by Britain, ‘four vaccine formulations included in the list like AstraZeneca Covishield, AstraZeneca Vexjevria and Modern Takeda are eligible to be included in the approved vaccines.’ It has been further stated that Beginning at 4 a.m. on October 4, those who have received the vaccine from ‘qualified public health bodies’ in particular countries will be considered fully vaccinated. India’s name is not on this list.
The UK has not yet recognized the Cowin certificate of Indian travelers. Earlier, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had called the UK’s decision not to approve the vaccine regarding the vaccine as ‘discriminatory’ and said that it would affect the travel of Indians. At the same time, he had also said that if this matter is not resolved, then the country has the ‘right to take similar measures.
During the press conference, Shringla had said, ‘Not recognizing Covishield is a discriminatory policy and will affect the travel of our passengers to the UK. The Foreign Minister has strongly raised this issue with the new Foreign Secretary of Britain. I have been told that the issue has been assured that it will be resolved soon.
Many Indians opposed this decision of the British government. The vaccine prepared at the Serum Institute in Pune was not approved under the new rules. Whereas, a similar vaccine was given to millions of citizens of Britain. People who had received the vaccine in Britain were exempted from the quarantine rules. After India’s intervention, the British High Commission in New Delhi had said that the UK was working with India to resolve the matter.
