Accept CovaShield, Covaxin under Green Passport Scheme, India Tells EU Countries.
As the European Union eases travel restrictions under its ‘Green Passport’ scheme, India has urged members of the grouping of 27 countries to consider individually allowing Indians who have Covishield and Covaxin Vaccines to travel to Europe, sources said India will establish a reciprocal policy for recognition of EU digital COVID certificates.
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 framework to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic will take effect from Thursday.
Under this framework, persons taking vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be exempted from travel restrictions within the European Union.
Individual member states also have the flexibility to accept vaccines at the national level or authorized by the World Health Organization.
Use CoWIN portal: India tells EU member states
A source said, “We have requested EU member states to consider granting similar exemptions to individuals who have had COVID-19 vaccines at CoVShield and Covaxin in India, and through the CoWIN portal. We accept the immunization certificate issued by him,” said a source.
Sources said the genuineness of such vaccination certification can be authenticated on the COVIN portal.
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India will implement reciprocal policy if…
“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.
“On notification of CoVShield and Covaxin for inclusion in the European Union’s Digital COVID Certificate and the recognition of the Indian CoVin Vaccination Certificate, the Health Authority of India shall mandate the relevant EU Member State for mandatory quarantine of all persons holding an EU Digital COVID Certificate. will mutually exempt for exemption from Rs.
Fears over people vaccinated with CovaShield, Covaxin ineligible for EU Green Pass
There are apprehensions in India that those who have taken the Covishield and Covaxin jobs 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 bloc, to obtain a digital COVID certificate, an EU official said on Tuesday.
EAM Jaishankar raises issue of inclusion of Covishield in EU digital COVID certificates
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 Fontels on Tuesday.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Italy.
(With inputs from PTI)
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