Here Is Why India Is Opposing 'Hugely Discriminatory' Vaccine Passport For International Travel
India has opposed the idea of a vaccine passport to make international travel easier amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan who was speaking at a G7 plus ministerial session said that the idea is discriminatory.
"At this stage of the pandemic, it is pertinent to also discuss India's concern over the idea of a vaccine passport. Considering the fact of the lower levels of vaccination of the population in developing countries in contrast to the developed countries and given the still-unaddressed issues related to equitable and affordable access, supply and distribution of safe and effective vaccines, India would propose that the implementation of a vaccine passport will be hugely discriminatory and disadvantageous to the developing countries," he said.
Vaccine passport
Several countries including the US, UK, the EU etc. have been seriously considering the introduction of a 'vaccine passport' - a document showing the traveler's vaccination history to facilitate international travel without restrictions.
While a vaccine passport may not be a big deal for many western countries where a sizable section of the population has been administered both doses of COVID-19 vaccines, it puts countries like India at a disadvantageous position.
India's problems?
That is because only less than four per cent of India's adult population have so far received both doses.
In addition to this, one of the COVID-19 vaccines used in India - Covaxin, is yet to receive emergency use authorization from the WHO, which means that even if someone has taken both shots of the vaccine, it may not be recognized by the country they intend to travel.
Priority for those travelling
Recently keeping in mind this requirement, many states in India had announced that those who have to travel abroad for work or studies will be given priority for vaccination.
Kerala which has a sizable population working abroad had recently said that those traveling abroad will be issued vaccine certificates with their passport numbers.
The state had also said that such people will be given the Covishield vaccine as it cleared by the WHO (as Oxford AstraZeneca).
Karnataka government too has added students and working professionals travelling overseas for employment in the preferential groups for COVID-19 vaccination.
"Earlier, vaccination confirmation was not attached with the passport but with the PAN card and Aadhar card. But now, to facilitate the students and employees going abroad it has been linked with passport," Deputy Chief Minister Dr C Ashwath Narayan said.
In Maharashtra, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had launched a similar initiative in Mumbai, a walk-in vaccination -- without registration -- for students going abroad.
