UK recognizes Covaxin, no self-isolation for fully-vaccinated Indian travelers

After recognizing Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covishield on October 4, the UK approved Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin on November 22 as a valid COVID-19 vaccine for inbound travel. The move came after the WHO released an emergency-use listing, clearing the latter on November 4. 

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What does the approval mean for travellers fully-vaccinated with Covaxin?

Passengers, i.e. whether normal immigrants or students seeking to study abroad in UK, inoculated with Covaxin can travel to any part of the UK without the need for quarantine after arrival to the country. 

The UK is also accepting India’s vaccine certificates from October 11. 

According to an Indian news agency, government officials have stated that more than 110 countries have approved the two Indian vaccines, benefiting fully-vaccinated students, immigrants and travelers from India. The countries that have cleared the two Indian vaccines include Australia and New Zealand, among others. 

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British High Commissioner Alex Ellis had earlier informed about the approval in a tweet. “More good news for Indian travellers to Great Britain. From November 22nd, travellers fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine recognized by the WHO for Emergency Use Listing, including Covaxin, will not have to self-isolate; so joining those fully vaccinated with Covishield,” he wrote. 

The two Indian-manufactured vaccines received an emergency use authorization from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for a nationwide vaccination drive, which started on January 16. Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is the first made-in India COVID-19 vaccine, while Covishield by SII is the Indian version of Britain’s AstraZeneca. 

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China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac have also been added to the list of vaccines cleared by the UK. These vaccines have been largely used for running vaccination drives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia.