Indians blast UK’s ‘racist’, ‘unscientific’ decision on Covid-19 quarantine for vaccinated travellers
- Both countries have made widespread use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford jab – known in India as Covishield – for their Covid-19 vaccination drives
- Yet unlike vaccinated travellers from other countries, Indians travelling to the UK must undergo a 10-day quarantine – even if fully vaccinated
Both countries have made widespread use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford jab – known in India as Covishield – for their vaccination drives, with Britain even taking delivery of about 5 million doses made under licence by the Serum Institute of India before the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer halted exports amid a devastating second wave of the virus earlier this year.
Yet unlike vaccinated travellers from other countries – or British nationals themselves – vaccinated Indians travelling to the UK must now undergo a 10-day quarantine, complete with two rounds of compulsory testing, even if they have received the AstraZeneca-Oxford jab.
The rule changes, announced last week, mandate that only those who have been jabbed under an approved vaccination programme in Britain, Europe, or the US or a “UK vaccine programme overseas” will be considered fully vaccinated by British authorities.
Jairam Ramesh, leader of India’s opposition Congress party, called the new rule “absolutely bizarre considering Covishield was originally developed in the UK and The Serum Institute, Pune has supplied to that country too,” adding “this smacks of racism”.