EU countries agree to admit travellers vaccinated with WHO-approved shots

Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals

22/02/2022 12:10

BRUSSELS, Feb 22 (Reuters) - European Union countries agreed
on Tuesday to open their borders to travellers from outside the
bloc who have had shots against COVID-19 authorised by the World
Health Organization, easing restrictions on those who received
Indian and Chinese vaccines.
    The EU has so far authorised vaccines produced by
Pfizer-BionTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca (when produced in Europe),
Johnson & Johnson and Novavax.
    In addition to these shots, the WHO has also approved the
vaccines produced by Chinese makers Sinopharm  1099.HK  and
Sinovac  SVA.O  and by Indian company Bharat Biotech  BIBC.BO .
It has also authorised the AstraZeneca vaccine made in India by
the Serum Institute.
    Until now, most EU countries have not admitted people from
outside the bloc travelling for non-essential reasons if they
have been vaccinated with shots not approved in the EU.
    "Member states should lift the temporary restriction on
non-essential travel to the EU for persons vaccinated with an
EU- or WHO-approved vaccine," said a recommendation adopted on
Tuesday by EU governments which would be applicable from March
1.
    Restrictions will be lifted for travellers who received the
final dose of the primary vaccination cycle at least 14 days and
no more than 270 days before arrival. Boosted travellers will
also be accepted. 
    EU states also agreed to lift a temporary restriction on
non-essential travel for people who have recovered from COVID-19
within 180 days prior to travelling to the EU.
    For people inoculated with a WHO-approved vaccine, EU states
could also require a negative PCR test taken at the earliest 72
hours before departure and could apply additional measures such
as quarantine or isolation.

 (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio
Editing by Gareth Jones)
 ((Francesco.Guarascio@thomsonreuters.com;))