Covishield will be treated as recognised vaccine: Australia

It is still unclear if move will help Indian tourists, students going to country

Employees pack boxes containing vials of Covishield, a version of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Serum Institute of India in Pune. File photo

Australia has recognised the Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII). In a statement to the media, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday said Covishield will be treated as part of the “recognised vaccines” in Australia.

However, it is not yet clear if the recognition of the India-made vaccine will help Indian tourists and students to visit Australia and according to a spokesperson from the Australian High Commission, vaccinated travellers will have to produce a vaccination certificate to enter Australia.

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“Today the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) has published its initial assessment of the data on the protection offered by the Coronavac (Sinovac) and Covishield (AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India) vaccines and has advised that these vaccines should be considered as ‘recognised vaccines’ for the purpose of determining incoming international travellers as being appropriately vaccinated,” said Mr. Morrison, emphasising that the latest announcement is aimed at reuniting Australian families and to welcome tourists back to Australia.

This announcement is likely to help Australian nationals who have taken Covishield doses and were expecting to travel to Australia which at the moment has travel barriers. The government of Australia is committed to ensure that Australians who were “fully vaccinated” abroad can return home without unnecessary obstacles, the statement said.

“The recognition of these two additional vaccines is a major milestone towards more Australians vaccinated overseas getting home sooner,” said Mr Morrison.

The announcement came a day after Mr. Morrison indicated that the status of Covishield in Australia was pending before the TGA.

He, however, said that declaring certain vaccines as ‘recognised vaccines’ is separate from the issue of allowing these to be used by citizens in Australia. It also appears unclear if Indian tourists and students who have been vaccinated using Covishield would be allowed into the country.

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India and Australia are in discussion to deal with the travel requirement of large number of Indian students who are enrolled in Australian universities but are unable to travel to the campuses as the country remains shut to tourists and temporary travellers. The spokesperson from the Australian High Commission, however, clarified that there will be need for “further decisions” before the process is clarified for international travellers.

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“Travellers will need to produce evidence they have been vaccinated with a TGA approved or recognised vaccine, such as a vaccination certificate. Travellers will also need to attest at check-in that they have been fully vaccinated with an approved or recognised vaccine,” said the spokesperson indicating that the decision will be taken in the coming weeks.

Requirement for a vaccination certificate from Indian travellers will also require connectivity between databases of India and Australia which is expected to require some negotiation as already shown by the ongoing stalemate between India and the UK over similar vaccination certificates.

Prime Minister Morrison however mentioned that in the coming weeks, Australia will move to “reopen” its territory, saying, “Within weeks, large parts of the country will be moving to Phase B and then to Phase C of the National Plan to safely reopen Australia and to stay safely open.”