9 European nations recognise Covishield
NEW DELHI: Nine European coun- tries, including key EU members such as Germany and Spain and non-eu states such as Switzerland and Iceland, currently recognise Covishield for proof of Covid-19 vaccination for travel.
Questions about travel to Europe by Indians who have received the Covishield jab, which is the version of the Astrazeneca vaccine manufactured and distributed by SII, have arisen since the vaccine has not yet been approved by the EMA. So far, EU members Austria, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain, and Iceland and Switzerland, which aren’t in the bloc but are part of the Schengen visa regime, recognise Covishield for Covid-19 vaccination for travel purposes, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity on Thursday. However, travel between India and Europe remains tightly restricted.
Of the nine countries, India has an air bubble arrangement only with Germany, which is a key transit hub for Indian nationals travelling to Europe and North America.
Some of these countries, such as Switzerland, are accepting visa applications from fully vaccinated people who have been inoculated with doses approved by the WHO or EU or their national authority.
On Tuesday, German ambassador Walter Lindner tweeted his country recognises a double shot of Covishield as “valid proof of anti-covid vaccination”, but added that this does not “modify existing travel or visa restrictions for travellers from areas of concern/virus variants areas”.
The Indian side has informed the 27 EU member states that it will follow a policy of reciprocity in recognising Covid vaccines for travel, and exempt EU nationals possessing the “green pass” from mandatory quarantine only if the bloc recognises vaccines being administered in India, such as Covishield and Covaxin.
India also asked EU states to accept Covishield and Covaxin, as the vaccines have been authorised by WHO or the national authority, for Indian nationals travelling to Europe. Indian vaccination certificates can be authenticated by European authorities on the COWIN portal, the people said.