The UK has revised its travel policy to include Covishield as an approved vaccine, but says Indians double-vaccinated with the shot still have to quarantine, raising "vaccination certification issues".
Updated UK guidelines say, "Formulations of the four listed vaccines, such as AstraZeneca Covishield, AstraZeneca Vaxzevria and Modern Takeda, qualify as approved vaccines."
However, Indians vaccinated with two doses of Covishield will still need to quarantine. The implication is that the problem is not Covishield but doubts over vaccination certification in India.
The UK government has said it is "working with India to expand recognition of vaccine certification."
This could raise fresh trouble after India warned of "reciprocal measures" if Covishield, the Indian version of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, was not recognised.
"The non-recogition of Covishield is a discriminating policy and impacts our citizens travelling to the UK. The External Affairs Minister 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," Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had told reporters yesterday.
The UK has revised its travel policy to include Covishield as an approved vaccine, but says Indians double-vaccinated with the shot still have to quarantine, raising "vaccination certification issues".
