Germany Finally Opens Its Doors To Travellers From India Who Have Been Jabbed Twice

Update : Germany is the latest country to lift the ban on travellers from India who have recieved double vaccination. Other countries including Nepal, Russia, Portugal and the UK, currently listed as so-called virus variant countries, would be reclassified from Wednesday as ¡°high-incidence areas¡±.

As of now, the rules in Germany only allowed its citizens to enter the country from a variant nation and are subjected to two-week quarantine, regardless of their vaccination status. The "high-incidence areas" status will allow anyone from such countries to enter Germany provided they produce a negative test on arrival and quarantine on arrival for 10 days.

Switzerland and 7 European Union countries including Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland and Spain have included the Serum Institute-manufactured Covishield vaccine in their Green Pass. This means that anyone who has been completely vaccinated with the Covishield vaccine can now travel to these countries.

So far, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, and Spain have confirmed accepting Covishield. Switzerland also allows Covishield for Schengen state: Sources

¡ª ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2021

This development took place after India warn European nations to include Indian-manufactured Covaxin and Covishield vaccines in their Green Pass.

The Centre also declared that a failure to include Covishield and Covaxin will force India to implement mandatory quarantine rules for EU citizens.

The Indian government had stated that it will not recognise the EU¡¯s digital Covid certificate until it recognises Indian vaccines Covishield and Covaxin in the certificate.

A source told Times Of India, " We have conveyed to the EU Member States that India will institute a reciprocal policy for recognition of the EU Digital Covid Certificate. Upon notification of Covishield and Covaxin for inclusion in the EU Digital Covid Certificate and recognition of Indian CoWIN vaccination certificates, Indian health authorities would reciprocally exempt the concerned EU Member State for exemption from mandatory quarantine all those persons carrying EU Digital Covid Certificate."

WHO

The sources have also asked the EU Member States to accept give exemption to people who have taken Covishield and Covaxin and accept the vaccination certificate issued through the CoWIN portal.

However, The EU had also explained that the Serum Institute Of India had not applied for the requisite permissions with the EMA, and had promised to consider its case as soon as it applied. But New Delhi contended that the EMA must consider the Indian-made vaccines by accepting the CoWin certificate, regardless of the applications.

Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar, on Tuesday, during his meeting with top EU officials took up the issue of the inclusion of Covishield in the vaccination passport initiative of the European Union.

A comprehensive review of our relationship with EUHR VP @JosepBorrellF. Taking forward the agenda of the Leaders¡¯ Summit.

Discussed vaccine production and access. Took up ¡®Covishield¡¯ authorisation for travel to Europe. Will be following up. pic.twitter.com/FhwIKS44V7

¡ª Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 29, 2021

Only four vaccines including Comirnaty of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Vaxzervria by AstraZeneca-Oxford and, Johnson & Johnson¡¯s Janssen have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Covishield even though is exactly like Vaxzervria did not make the cut earlier. However, Covaxin has not been approved mainly because WHO has not recognized the vaccine yet.

Meanwhile, the EU also clarified on Tuesday that the ¡°Green pass¡± is not a mandatory condition to travel to Europe as individual member states are free to accept vaccines approved by WHO such as Covishield.