India has indicated that if the United Kingdom does not recognize the Covishield vaccine, it may take action against the UK. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on 21 September that not recognizing Covishield is a “discriminatory” policy and affects Indians traveling to the United Kingdom.
“As we move forward, we will see what happens next, but if we don’t get satisfaction, we can exercise our rights to reciprocate,” Shringla said.
From 4 October, the UK will implement the new travel rules, which have now kept the Red List only. Earlier it had put it in a three-tier red, amber and green list for banned countries, but now it has been removed.
However, Indians will not benefit much from this move, as most of them have been vaccinated against the Covishield vaccine, which is not yet recognized by the UK.
As a result, the UK government has stated that if a person has been vaccinated in Africa, or South America, or countries including the United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey, Jordan, Thailand, Russia, they will not be considered vaccinated and will not be subject to quarantine. will have to be followed.
discriminatory rules
So, even if they are vaccinated, Indians will have to undergo a pre-departure Covid-19 test within three days prior to travel, book and pay for eight days of Covid-19 testing on the second day after arrival in the UK. and will have to be quarantined at home or at the place where they are staying for 10 days. They must fill out their Passenger Locator Form at any time in the 48 hours prior to their arrival in the UK.
Shringla said, “The External Affairs Minister has taken up the issue vigorously with his British counterpart. I am told that some assurance will be given that this issue will be taken up.” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is currently in the US to attend the session of the United Nations General Assembly, which resumed today.
Shringla said, “Covishield is a UK company licensed product manufactured in India, of which we have supplied 5 million doses to the UK at the request of the UK Government. We understand that this is used by the UK National Health System. I have also done it.”
Ironically, the vaccine was developed in the United Kingdom by Oxford University and British-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca. In fact, the name Covishield is a licensed trademark used for the vaccine in India.
After the controversy erupted, the British High Commission also clarified that it was in talks with India to expand recognition of a different Covid-19 vaccine.
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