India Seeks EU Approval for Covishield Vaccine Amid Europe's Green Pass Controversy

Strategic Insights -

Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar has taken up the issue of the European Union's refusal to grant Covishield, a vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), exemption under the EU's "vaccine passport" programme, also known as the Green Pass. The programme currently only includes four approved vaccines, excluding Covishield. Jaishankar tweeted after his meeting with the EU's high representative for foreign policy, Josep Borell Fontelles, stating that he would be following up on the issue. The controversy arises from the EU's decision to clear AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria vaccine, manufactured in the EU, while not doing the same for the Covishield vaccine, which is essentially the same product.

Key Takeaways:

  • Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar has raised the issue of Covishield vaccine authorization for travel to the EU with the EU's high representative, Josep Borell Fontelles.
  • The EU's Green Pass programme currently only includes four approved vaccines, excluding Covishield.
  • The Serum Institute of India has applied for approval to the European Medicine Agency (EMA) for the Covishield vaccine through AstraZeneca.
  • The EMA has clarified that it had not received any application for approval of Covishield vaccine by SII, and will examine any such request when received.
  • The EMA does not investigate new drugs on its own, unless it is asked by the relevant companies.
  • The controversy surrounding the Green Pass programme has sparked a backlash, with the EU stating that individual member states have the power to approve WHO-cleared vaccines for travel by foreigners to their countries.

Statistics:

  • 4 vaccines are currently approved for the EU's Green Pass programme: Vaxzevria (Oxford-AstraZeneca), Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech), Spikevax (Moderna), and Janssen-Johnson & Johnson.
  • The EU has stated that individual member states can approve WHO-cleared vaccines for travel by foreigners to their countries.
  • The Serum Institute of India has applied for approval to the EMA for the Covishield vaccine through AstraZeneca.

Sources:

  • Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar's tweet regarding the meeting with Josep Borell Fontelles
  • European Union statement on the Green Pass programme
  • EMA statement on Covishield vaccine approval
  • Serum Institute of India statement on Covishield vaccine application