Serum Institute of India Seeks EU's Inclusion of Covishield in COVID-19 Vaccination Passport

Strategic Insights -

India's Serum Institute of India, the manufacturer of the Covishield vaccine, has urged the government to approach the European Union and other countries to include the vaccine in the EU's COVID-19 Vaccination Passport, citing disruptions to students, business travelers, and the economy. The EU currently recognizes only four vaccines, excluding Covishield, which has been administered to over 30 crore people in India. SII's CEO Adar Poonawalla has taken up the matter with the government, stating that the exclusion of Covishield will cause severe disruptions to the Indian and global economy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Serum Institute of India (SII) has requested the Indian government to approach the European Union to include Covishield in the EU COVID-19 Vaccination Passport.
  • The EU currently recognizes only four vaccines: Comirnaty by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Vaxzervria by AstraZeneca-Oxford, and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen.
  • Over 30 crore people in India have been vaccinated with Covishield, with the vaccine being administered under technology transfer from Oxford/AstraZeneca.
  • AstraZeneca-SII Covishield has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for emergency use in the UK.
  • Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at SII, Prakash Kumar Singh, has also sought intervention from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, citing the national interest and the interest of people globally.
  • SII's CEO Adar Poonawalla has taken up the matter with the government, stating that the exclusion of Covishield will cause severe disruptions to the Indian and global economy.

Statistics:

  • Over 30 crore people in India have been vaccinated with Covishield so far.
  • Covishield vaccine has been approved by the MHRA for emergency use in the UK.
  • The EU recognizes only four vaccines: Comirnaty by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Vaxzervria by AstraZeneca-Oxford, and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen.

Sources:

  • Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla)
  • Serum Institute of India
  • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar