NEW DELHI: The UK has said it will recognise made-in-India Covaxin starting November 22. Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday described the World Health Organization’s emergency use listing for Bharat Biotech’s jab as a “welcome addition for everyone” as the country eases international travel curbs for inbound flyers. Covishield has long been on the WHO-approved list.
“From 4am on November 22, the (UK) government will recognise vaccines on the WHO's Emergency Use Listing. As a result Covaxin will be added to our list of approved vaccines for inbound travel, benefitting more fully vaccinated people from countries such as India. The US also recognises the vaccines on the WHO EUL for inbound travel,” the UK government said in a statement.
Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, tweeted: “More good news for Indian travellers to UK. From November 22, travellers fully vaccinated with a Covid-19 vaccine recognised by WHO, including Covaxin, will not have to self-isolate; so joining those fully vaccinated with Covishield.”
The US has implemented a new travel policy under which all non-immigrant, non-citizen air travellers will be required to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination status along with a negative report from a Covid test taken 3 days prior to boarding a flight to America.
There are very few exceptions to this new rule.
“(The new policy is) an enormously positive change, a big step to a return to normal international travel. All foreign national non-immigrant travellers aged 18 and above are required to be fully vaccinated. They have to submit proof of vaccination to the airline prior to boarding a flight to the US. The new policy replaces the earlier country-specific one and applies to everyone, with very few exceptions,” said Rena Bitter, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, US State Department.
The exception to the fully vaccinated requirement include children under 18, people medically unable to receive the vaccine and emergency travellers who do not have timely access to a vaccine due to availability issues.
US citizens and Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) who are eligible to travel but are not fully vaccinated will need to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test one day before their flight’s departure.
Dr Martin Cetron, director of Division of Global Migration and Quarantine at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said children “under two years of age do not need to have the negative Covid test. (Exceptions include those who have) documented recovery with letter recovery within last 90 days.” About Covaxin, Dr Cetron said it’s a vaccine administered a lot in India. “It is a welcome and recent addition to WHO EUL.”Read More