EU Green Pass: SII applies to EMA for inclusion of Covishield in approved jabs list

The EMA, which is the agency of the European Union responsible for the evaluation and supervision of medicinal products, has approved only four Covid-19 vaccines so far: Comirnaty (BioNTech-Pfizer), Moderna, Vaxzevria (Oxford-AstraZeneca) and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).

The Serum Institute of India (SII) has applied to the European Medicines Agency (EMA)-the regulatory body of Europe for the inclusion of SII manufactured Covishield in the list of approved vaccines for the EU ‘Green Pass.’ The pass is required for easy travel to and within the EU and will be launched from July 1.

The company’s CEO Adar Poonawalla said that he hopes to resolve the matter soon.

“I realise that a lot of Indians who have taken Covishield are facing issues with travel to the E.U. I assure everyone, I have taken this up at the highest levels and hope to resolve this matter soon, both with regulators and at a diplomatic level with countries,” he tweeted

As reported by ET on Sunday, 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.

As of now, travel from India is restricted by most countries. But once these restrictions are removed, the absence of an Indian vaccine from the list of approved jabs will create hurdle for people wanting to travel.

The EMA, which is the agency of the European Union responsible for the evaluation and supervision of medicinal products, has approved only four Covid-19 vaccines so far: Comirnaty (BioNTech-Pfizer), Moderna, Vaxzevria (Oxford-AstraZeneca) and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). EU member states that issue the Green Pass must accept these four vaccines, but are free to accept others as well.