Eight countries in Europe have approved the Covidshield vaccine as a digital certificate. That is, the Coveshield of Serum Institute of India has been included in the Green Passport. These countries include Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland and Spain.
Under the Green Passport, people who have received vaccines authorized by the European Medical Agency (EMA) will be exempted from travel restrictions inside these countries. In fact, Covishield was not yet approved by the European Union, due to which Indians currently did not have a green pass to go to Europe. The European Union has started the Green Pass system from July 1.
Earlier on Wednesday, India had asked the member countries of the European Union (EU) to include Covishield and Covaccine in the Green Pass scheme. The government has bluntly told the EU to accept both these vaccines or else quarantine will be made mandatory for EU citizens on their arrival in India. The European Union has eased travel restrictions under its ‘Green Pass’ scheme. At the same time, India has requested the 27 member states of the group to consider separately on allowing Indians who have been vaccinated against Covidshield and Covaxin to travel to Europe.
Covishield is manufactured in India by Serum Institute, the world’s largest vaccine maker. Covishield was approved for emergency use in February. Of the three vaccines available so far, India is giving only the maximum number of Covidshield vaccines. So far, out of the total 33 vaccines given in the country, Covidshield vaccine alone has been given to more than 28 crore people.
On the other hand, Covaccine is an Indian domestic vaccine, which has not yet received WHO approval. EMA authorization has not been applied for this vaccine also. Sputnik V, which is the third vaccine approved for use in India and by the WHO, is yet to be rolled out in India due to supply delays.