EU COVID-19 Vaccine Travel Pass: Why Does Serum Institute's Covishield Not Qualify

Vaccine major Serum Institute of India chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla on June 28 said he has taken up the issues faced by Indians who have taken the Covishield jab travelling to the European Union at highest levels. He hoped to resolve the issues soon. Covishield is the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India by the Pune-based vaccine maker. Covishield vaccine "does not currently have a marketing authorisation" in Europe. The matter would be considered when an application is received for it, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on June 28. Serum Institute, Pune, which makes Covishield in India with a license from AstraZeneca, didn’t apply to have the vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMA confirmed to The Wire Science it has thus far not received an approval application for Covishield. People vaccinated with Covishield, manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute Of India (SII) are unlikely to be eligible to travel to the European Union member states under the 'Green Pass' scheme as the vaccine is yet to be cleared by the EMA. EU Digital Covid-19 certificate or 'Green Pass' will be mandatory to travel to European countries and the document is likely to serve as proof that a person is vaccinated against Covid-19. Watch the video to know more.