India Initiates Diplomatic Mission To Push More Countries To Recognise Covaxin

India has initiated a diplomatic exercise to increase the list of countries that would mutually recognise vaccine certificates to pave the way for smoother travel for Indians following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) approval for Covaxin for emergency use.

Meanwhile, efforts are going on to impress upon more countries to recognise Covaxin as the number of countries accepting Indians vaccinated with the Bharat Biotech-developed vaccine could rise after WHO’s decision.

So far, countries like Australia, Sri Lanka, Greece, Nepal, Mauritius, Estonia, Zimbabwe and Philippines amongst others have approved Covaxin.

Moreover, travellers who have taken both doses of Covaxin will be permitted to enter the US from 8^th November onwards as well.

Additionally, seven countries comprising Palestine, Mauritius, Mangolia, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Serbia and Estonia have opted to mutually recognise vaccine certificates with India.

Over 20 countries have already permitted vaccinated Indians entry without being quarantined and vice versa.

During the recently held G20 meeting at Rome, India had proposed mutual recognition of Covid vaccination certificates. Subsequently, the G20 leaders decided to work towards reopening international travel by acknowledging mutual recognition of vaccine certificates.

“Fact of the matter is that the point the PM tried to make (on vaccine certification) has been received. Most countries are quite happy with the idea of facilitating smoother international travel...and feel that we need to collectively work on it,” Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said post the summit, as reported by the Economic Times.