After Severe Backlash, UK Clarifies, Certification Through CoWIN The Issue , Not Covishield

Image : Representational Purpose Only

Amidst of a growing outcry in India over its new travel rules, the United Kingdom has said there was no problem with the Covishield vaccine and suggested the main issue is COVID-19 vaccine certification done through the CoWIN app, noting that both sides are having discussions at a rapid pace to resolve it.

According to a PTI report, Following India’s strong criticism over the UK’s refusal to recognise Covishield, London amended its new guidelines to include the Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine in its updated international travel advisory.

However, Indian travellers vaccinated with two doses of Covishield will still have to undergo 10 days of quarantine in the UK notwithstanding the amendment, the officials clarified saying the inclusion of the vaccine will not make much of a difference.

‘We’re clear Covishield is not a problem. The UK is open to travel and we’re already seeing a lot of people going from India to the UK, be it tourists, business people or students,’ Alex Ellis, British high commissioner to India, said.

The high commissioner said both sides have technical discussions on the issue of certification.