Clear Covaxin, Covishield Or We Won't Accept Your Vaccine Certificates: India To EU

This comes amid the European Union’s hesitancy in accepting Indian-made vaccines for its 'vaccination passport'.

CoWIN App | File Image

India has told the European Union that New Delhi will not recognise its digital Covid certificate until Indian vaccines Covishield and Covaxin are included in the EU Digital Covid Certificate. This comes amid the European Union’s hesitancy in accepting Indian-made vaccines for its 'vaccination passport'.

"We have requested European Union Member States to individually consider extending the similar exemption to those persons who have taken Covid-19 vaccines in India i.e. Covishield and Covaxin, and accept the vaccination certificate issued through the CoWIN portal," sources informed news agency ANI. 

"We have also conveyed to the EU Member States that India will institute a reciprocal policy for recognition of the EU Digital Covid Certificate," the ANI source added.

"Upon notification of Covishield and Covaxin for inclusion in EU Digital Covid Certificate and recognition of Indian CoWIN vaccination certificates, Indian health authorities would reciprocally exempt concerned EU Member States for exemption from the mandatory quarantine of all those persons carrying EU Digital Covid Certificate," the ANI source added.

As per the new “Green Pass” scheme, the people vaccinated with Covishield are unlikely to be allowed to travel to the European Union member states. 

The European Union countries so far accept only the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency, which are Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen.

Covishield, which is said to be the Indian version of AstraZeneca, is, however, yet to receive clearance from the European Union member states.

European Union ambassador to India, Ugo Astuto, had earlier told ANI that “every approval process of vaccine must be conducted on its own merit”.

The European Union’s Digital Covid certificate framework to facilitate free movement during the Covid-19 pandemic is to come into effect on July 1.