EMA had not received Covishield approval request: EU

The European Medicine Agency has not received a request for the approval of Covishield  in the COVID-19 'vaccination passport' with the European Union, the EU said on Tuesday amid concerns among Covishield-vaccinated Indians facing issues with travel to Europe. The European Union has not yet recognised the India-made version of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine. But, for the purpose of the Digital Covid Certificate, individual member states will have the option to accept vaccinations that have been authorised by the World Health Organization (WHO).

While many EU member states have started issuing the digital “vaccine passport” that will enable travellers to move freely for work or tourism purposes, those vaccinated with Covishield may not be eligible for the ‘Green Pass’ that will be available to use from July 1. "Concerning a possible EMA authorisation for Covishield, as of Monday, the European Medicine Agency (EMA) stated that it had not received a request for approval. It will examine any such request when received, as per its procedures," the EU said in a statement.

The official clarified that the EU Digital Covid Certificate is meant to facilitate restriction-free movement within the member states and is not a pre-condition to travel. The certificate will serve as proof that the person was either vaccinated against the virus, received a negative test result or recovered from it.Currently, individuals vaccinated with any of the four EMA-approved vaccines are eligible for the "vaccine passport". The four vaccines are Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Moderna, Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).