India must first decode impact of EU Green pass

India must first decode impact of EU Green pass

Subject : International Relations

Context : India needs to first ascertain the implication of the ‘EU Green Pass’ on Indian travellers before taking up the matter with the bloc, as many European countries have their own ‘vaccine passport’ mechanism in place, based on vaccines listed by the World Health Organisation, said a source tracking the development.

Concept :

• The digital “vaccine passport” recognises the Vaxzevria version of the AstraZeneca vaccine that is produced in the UK and Europe, and approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
• Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is not yet recognised by the EMA.
• India will take up the issue of approval of the Serum Institute of India’s Covishield vaccine by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) with the European Union during discussions between Indian and EU officials on the margins of the G20 meeting in Italy on Tuesday.
• Those vaccinated with Covishield, the version of the AstraZeneca vaccine being manufactured in India by SII, are not eligible for the EU Digital Covid certificate or “green pass”.

EU Digital Covid certificate or “green pass”

• The digital document will contain a QR code and can be carried on a mobile phone.
• It is an immunity document to ease travel within and to the 27-member bloc. It will be in place by July 1.
• It has deliberately not been called a “vaccine passport” because some member states felt that would discriminate against those who had not yet been offered a shot.
• All EU citizens or third-country nationals who are legally staying in the EU will be able to use these digital certificates and thereby will be exempted from free movement restrictions.