UK adds India's Covaxin to approved Covid vaccines list
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The Heathrow Airport in London.
After months-long wait, the UK has announced that it will recognise COVID-19 vaccines on the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing later this month, adding China's Sinovac, Sinopharm and India's Covaxin to the country's approved list of vaccines for inbound travellers.
As per reports, the updated advisory will come into force from 4 am on November 22 which will benefit fully vaccinated people from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and India.
"From 4am on November 22, the (UK) government will recognise vaccines on the WHO's Emergency Use Listing. As a result Covaxin will be added to our list of approved vaccines for inbound travel, benefitting more fully vaccinated people from countries such as India. The US also recognises the vaccines on the WHO EUL for inbound travel," the UK government said in a statement.
Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, tweeted: "More good news for Indian travellers to UK. From November 22, travellers fully vaccinated with a Covid-19 vaccine recognised by WHO, including Covaxin, will not have to self-isolate; so joining those fully vaccinated with Covishield."
The travel rules are being further simplified as all people under the age of 18, who have been fully vaccinated, will be able to enter England without self-isolating on arrival, The Department for Transport said on Monday.
Instead, passengers will just need to pay for a lateral flow test to take before the end of their second day, post-arrival, said the UK govt.
The UK had in October announced that Indian travellers won't have to quarantine upon their arrival if they are either fully vaccinated with Covishield or any other UK-approved Covid-19 jab. This came after a major row between India and the UK over Britain's travel advisory, which included Covishield in its list of accepted vaccines, but still required vaccinated travellers from India to quarantine themselves for 10 days upon the arrival. The UK at the time said it didn't accept the Cowin certificate.