EU Countries May Delay Visits for Those Vaccinated with Covaxin or Sputnik V

Strategic Insights -

Due to a lack of approval by the World Health Organization (WHO), people vaccinated with Covaxin or Sputnik V may face challenges entering European Union (EU) countries. The bloc accepts visitors who have completed their immunization at least two weeks before arrival using one of the shots approved by its own regulator or by the WHO. This includes vaccines from Oxford AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Sinopharm. India's Covaxin, administered to over 2 crore people, is yet to be listed in the WHO's Emergency Use Listing (EUL). While a proposal has been sent to WHO, the guidance document shows that more information is required. India is pushing for clearances from both WHO and the EU's European Medicines Agency.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EU only accepts visitors immunized with approved vaccines, which currently excludes Covaxin and Sputnik V.
  • Over 2 crore people in India have been administered with Covaxin, which has yet to receive WHO's Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
  • Covaxin's proposal has been sent to WHO, but the guidance document shows "more information is required."
  • India is pushing for clearances from both WHO and the EU's European Medicines Agency.
  • Sputnik V, developed by Russia's RDIF and the Gamaleya Research Institute, has also not received WHO's approval.
  • Besides the EU, the UK and Canada have not included Covaxin in their approved list of vaccines.
  • Fully inoculated people's travel might be limited if more places become selective about vaccine recognition.

Statistics:

  • 2 crore people in India have been administered with Covaxin.
  • The WHO's EUL guidance document shows "more information is required" for Covaxin's approval.
  • Covaxin's expression of interest was submitted to WHO on April 19.
  • The WHO meeting to review Covaxin will be held between May and June 2021.

Sources:

  • "EU may delay entry for Sputnik V and Covaxin vaccine recipients" in IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd.
  • WHO's Guideline Document on "Status of Covid-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process"
  • "Covaxin clearance, EU travel plans, vaccine efficacy... Crucial questions" in Contify.com
  • Bharat Biotech's proposal to WHO (date not specified)