UK Covid Travel Rules: India Terms Policy 'Discriminatory', Warns Of 'Reciprocal Measures'

Indian travellers who have received both doses of the Covishield vaccine will be considered unvaccinated in UK and will have to undergo self-isolation for 10 days.

New Delhi: Expressing displeasure over UK government's decision of not recognising Covishield as a legitimate anti-Covid vaccine, India on Tuesday said that the policy is 'discriminating' and it is within the country's "right to take reciprocal measures" if the matter was not resolved soon. 

While addressing a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that non-recogition of Covishield is a discriminating policy and impacts our citizens travelling to the United Kingdom.

"The EAM has raised the issue strongly with the new UK foreign secretary. I am told that certain assurances have been given that this issue will be resolved," he said. 

Shringla's remarks came soon after the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said that the matter was discussed with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on the sidelines of 76th session of the UN General Assembly.

Jaishankar's meeting with British officials took place on the same day as the UK announced new Covid-related travel restrictions that sparked sharp criticism and concerns in India.

What Are UK's New Travel Rules?

Indian travellers who have received both doses of the Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) will be considered unvaccinated and will have to undergo self-isolation for 10 days.

From October 4, the current "traffic light system" of red, amber, green countries based on levels of Covid-19 risk will be replaced by one red list of countries.

Now, the scrapping of the amber list, which is what India is currently on, means a reduced PCR test cost burden only for some travellers.

India Not In UK's Expanded List

The expanded list of countries whose vaccines are recognised in the UK does not include India. It means Indians vaccinated with Covishield, the SII-produced Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, would be required to undergo compulsory PCR tests as well as self-isolation.

Meanwhile, UK has said it is engaging with India to explore how it could expand the recognition of the Covid-19 vaccine certification issued by Indian authorities amid criticism of the new British travel rules, news agency PTI reported.

When asked about the concerns in India over the new rules that will come into effect from October 4, a British High Commission spokesperson told the news agency that UK is engaged with India on the issue and is committed to opening up international travel again "as soon as is practicable".