LONDON: The British government has said that Covid-19 vaccine certification of all countries must meet the “minimum criteria” and that it works with India in the “gradual approach” for its international travel norms.
It followed the Covishield, the Indian Serum Institute produced the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine, added to the expanded English trip advisor on Wednesday.
But with the Indian vaccine certification not on the list of 18 approved countries, Indian travelers to the UK will continue to be treated as non-vaccinations and therefore are needed to be quarantined for 10 days on arrival.
After a lot of confusion over this process, said government resources in the UK on Wednesday that additions or changes to the list of approved countries are being stored under “routine considerations”, but there is no further clarity about the criteria needed to approve the state vaccine certification .
“As part of our recently expanded inbound vaccination policy, we recognize the vaccine following Pfizer Biontech, Oxford Astrazeneca, Modera and Janssen (J & J), for international travel purposes.
It is now included astrazeneca covishield formulations, Astrazeneca Vaxzevria and Moderna Takeda, “British government spokesman said.
“Our top priority still protects public health, and reopens travel in a safe and sustainable manner, which is why vaccine certification from all countries must meet the minimum criteria by considering public health and broader consideration.
We continue to work with international partners, including India , to launch our gradual approach, “said the spokesman.
Tourists who are not fully vaccinated, or vaccinated in countries like India at this time not on the government recognized list in the UK, must take pre-departure tests, pay for day two and eight PCR tests after arrival in the UK and isolate themselves 10 days, with Option to “test to release” after five days after the Negative PCR test.
With reference to anger of Indian vaccination certification which is not recognized even though the covishield is one of the two main covid-19 vaccines managed in India, the British government sources will only say that the launch of the inbound vaccination program to other countries and the region is always intended As a “gradual approach”, building the success of pilots with the US and Europe.
From October 4, the English traffic light system from red, yellow and green countries based on the level of risk Covid-19 must be officially deleted.
However, regardless of the Covishield is now recognized in the vaccine formulation that meets the requirements in the UK, it will not offer any profit to Indian tourists who are vaccinated the Covishield planning a British visit.
The Indian government has expressed a strong criticism of such steps and warns “reciprocity” if vaccinated tourists from India continue to be treated in the “discriminatory” way.
At the Global Covid summit held by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that international travel must be made easier through “interpretation of the vaccine certificate”.