UK approves India-made Covaxin for travel

The UK’s approval of India-made Covaxin has come into effect from today. Covaxin is now in the UK’s approved list of COVID-19 vaccines for international travellers. The news is huge and comes as a relief for thousands of travellers from India vaxxed with the Bharat Biotech-manufactured vaccine. The travellers jabbed with Covaxin will not have to self-isolate after arrival in the country.

British High Commissioner Alex Ellis had tweeted that the UK would recognise Covaxin for travel from November 22. He took to Twitter and tweeted
"More good news for Indian travellers to Great Britain. From 22 November travellers fully vaccinated with a Covid-19 vaccine recognised by the WHO for Emergency Use Listing, including Covaxin, will not have to self-isolate; so joining those fully vaccinated with Covishield".

More good news for 🇮🇳 travellers to 🇬🇧👇
From 22 November travellers fully vaccinated with a #COVID19 vaccine recognised by @WHO for Emergency Use Listing, including Covaxin, will not have to self-isolate; so joining those fully vaccinated with Covishield.https://t.co/UyJsryBd0O https://t.co/mZhaqRgB35

— Alex Ellis (@AlexWEllis) November 8, 2021

In addition to Covaxin, the UK government has added China’s Sinovac and Sinopharm too in its approved list of vaccines. As per reports, more than one billion doses of these three vaccines have been delivered across the globe. The latest changes were announced by the UK government earlier this month soon after the World Health Organization (WHO) gave their nod to Covaxin as “emergency-use listing” on November 3.

Soon after several countries started recognising the India-made vaccine. Covishield, another Indian jab, was already approved for inbound travel from October 4. India’s vaccine certificates were also started getting accepted from October 11.

Apparently, Covishield and Covaxin are the two prime vaccines being used in India. Besides, India is also using Russia-made Sputnik and Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine to vax its population. Last week, nearly 110 countries approved Covaxin and Covishield including New Zealand and Australia.