The European Union’s Digital COVID certificate or “Green Pass” is set to be rolled out on July 1 with an aim to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19
At least seven European countries including, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland and Spain, and Switzerland have approved the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine for ‘Green Pass’.
Separately, Estonia has also confirmed that it will recognise all vaccines authorised by the government of India for the travel of Indians to that country.
The EU Digital COVID certificate or ‘Green Pass’ will be mandatory to travel to European countries and the document will serve as proof that a person is vaccinated against COVID-19.
The EMA had earlier cleared only four vaccines – Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Moderna, Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) for the green pass.
The development comes a day after India asked the members of the 27-nation grouping to individually consider allowing Indians who have taken Covishield and Covaxin vaccines.
New Delhi also conveyed to the EU member states that it will adopt a policy of reciprocity and exempt European nationals holding the ‘Green Pass’ from mandatory quarantine if its request to recognise Covishield and Covaxin vaccines is heeded to.
Under this framework, persons who have taken vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be exempted from travel restrictions within the EU region.
Earlier, an EU official had said that the individual member states have the flexibility to also accept vaccines that have been authorised at the national level or those approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
