During the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting at Matera in Italy, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for international cooperation to deal with the global vaccine requirements to counter the threat of Covid-19 pandemic
India has taken a quick stand on recent travel roadblock created by the European Union (EU) that decided not to put Serum Institute of India (SII)-manufactured Covishield in ‘Green Pass’ list. The ‘Green Pass’ is required from July 1 for easy travel to and within the EU.
During the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting at Matera in Italy, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for international cooperation to deal with the global vaccine requirements to counter the threat of Covid-19 pandemic.
During the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting at Matera in Italy, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for international cooperation to deal with the global vaccine requirements to counter the threat of Covid-19 pandemic.
He called for ease of vaccine supply and movement of those who have taken both the shots as a matter of ‘vaccine equity’. His statement was also in line with the statement from the African Union and the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The Africa CDC had “noted with concern” the reports that Serum Institute of India’s Covishield vaccine, a version of AstraZeneca produced in India, has not received clearance from the European Medicines Authority (EMA).
The AU’s concern was over the supply of the vaccine, which lower income countries can arrange from India at lower rates.
“The EU has authorised the European version of AstraZeneca vaccine named Vaxzevria but the same was not extended to Covishield which is meant for India and lower income countries of Africa,” the AU said.
The Covishield (AstraZeneca’s Indian version) even has WHO approval. AstraZeneca’s version Covishield vaccine is manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII).
Timing for this kind of restriction is critical for the low income countries which are already suffering from the crisis of vaccine supply.
As per current protocol, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is approving only Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Moderna, Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca), and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).
Covishield, an AstraZeneca’s version is a WHO co-sponsored COVAX initiative under which Indians and citizens of low- and middle-income countries were immunized.