On Thursday, August 5, Serum Institute of India CEO and owner Adar Poonawalla confirmed that he has set aside Rs 10 crore to support students travelling abroad for studies. Some countries have still not approved Covishield as an acceptable vaccine to enter without being quarantined.
“Dear students travelling abroad, as a few countries are yet to approve COVISHIELD as an acceptable vaccine for travel without quarantine, you may have to incur some costs. I have set aside Rs.10 crores for this, apply below for financial support if needed,” Poonawalla said in a tweet.
He shared a link for students to apply for any financial support they need.
Indians who have been administered doses of either Covishield or Covaxin may have to remain under quarantine if they travel to the EU nations, that is unless the respective countries have cleared these vaccines.
Poonawalla had appreciated 16 European countries for recognising Covishied as a vaccine acceptable for entry.
“It is indeed good news for travellers, as we see sixteen European countries recognising Covishield as an acceptable vaccine for entry. However, despite being vaccinated, entry guidelines might vary from country to country, so do read up before you travel,” Poonawalla had said in a tweet.
Countries that have cleared the Serum Institute of India’s Covishield include Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Spain, Estonia and Switzerland.
So far, only four vaccines have been approved by the EU’s top medical body, the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The four approved vaccines include Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty, US pharma giant Moderna’s Covid vaccine, AstraZeneca shot manufactured and sold in Europe as Vaxzervria, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen. Vaccination passports are granted only to those who have received these shots. Also, these passport holders are allowed to travel amid the pandemic without any hassle.
The EMA list contains neither Covaxin nor Covishield. Bharat Biotech manufactures Covaxin, and Covishield is manufactured in India by the world’s largest manufacturer Serum Institute of India, in partnership with Oxford University and AstraZeneca.
