Accept Covishield, Covaxin for Green Passport or prepare for quarantine: India tells EU

Covishield and Covaxin must be notified in the European Union's digital Covid certificate, EU has been told, sources said.

As the European Union eases travel restrictions under its 'Green Pass' plan, India has asked members of the 27-nation group to consider individually allowing Indians who have tested positive for Covishield and Covaxin. have traveled. Have taken the vaccines and want to travel to Europe, the sources said.

He said India has also conveyed to EU member states that it will adopt a policy of reciprocity and exempt European nationals holding 'Green Pass' from mandatory quarantine in the country, subject to their request for recognition of the Kovashield and Covaxin vaccines. To give. be paid attention to.

Sources said that India has requested the member countries of the European Union to accept the vaccination certificate issued through the CoWIN portal.

The European Union's Digital COVID Certificate or "Green Pass" will be launched on Thursday, aimed at facilitating free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, which came into force on Thursday.

Under this framework, persons taking vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be exempted from travel restrictions on EU territory.

Individual Member States have the flexibility to accept vaccines authorized nationally or recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

A source said, “We have requested EU member states to consider giving similar exemptions to individuals who have had vaccines for COVID-19 in India, i.e. Covishield and Covaxin, and through the CoWIN portal we Accept the issued vaccination certificate.

Sources said the genuineness of such vaccination certification can be authenticated on the Kovin portal.

"We have also conveyed to EU member states that India will establish a reciprocal policy for recognition of EU digital COVID certificates," the source said.

"Upon notification of CoVShield and Covaxin for inclusion in EU digital COVID certificates and recognition of Indian CoWIN immunization certificates, the Health Authority of India will exempt the relevant EU Member State from the mandatory quarantine of all persons holding an EU digital COVID certificate. for,” said the source.

There are apprehensions in India that those who have taken jobs at Covishield and Covaxin are unlikely to be eligible to travel to EU member states under the 'Green Pass' scheme.

An EU digital COVID certificate or 'green pass' will be mandatory to travel to European countries and the document will serve as proof that a person has been vaccinated for COVID-19.

Individual EU member states will have the option of accepting vaccines authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO), such as the Covishield Block, to obtain a digital COVID certificate, an EU official said on Tuesday. for, an EU official said on Tuesday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar raised the issue of inclusion of Covishield in the EU's Digital COVID Certificate Scheme during a meeting with European Union High Representative Josep Borrell Fontel on Tuesday.