UK showed discrimination in travel policy towards Covishield

UK’s new international Covid-19 travel rules cause trouble to Indians. As per new UK’s policy, Indians who are fully vaccinated with Covishield have been considered as ‘not vaccinated’. The non-recognition of Covishield is a discriminating policy & impacts our citizens travelling to the UK. Covishield is manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII) along with UK’s Oxford-AstraZeneca. The UK is the first nation that gave approval to make the vaccine with Oxford in 2020 when other nations were silent on vaccines. SII and AstraZeneca have agreed to produce 1 billion doses in June 2020 for coronavirus.

Covershield is the most used vaccine in India. People in India were completely trusting of home-made vaccines. Non-recognition of Covishield vaccine is discriminating, impacts Indians travelling to the UK. As per the new travel policy, Indians should stay in a 10 day quarantine and have to submit covid test report three days before the trip. The UK government has penalized 500 pounds for those who fail to submit a negative report. Indian officials warn that the UK would face reciprocal action if the UK government does not review the new travel policy. Reportedly, India would take up the issue to the next diplomatic level for resolve.

UK's new-Covid related restrictions have elicited sharp reactions and criticism. Facing the severe backslash, UK has responded and said to working with Indian authorities to recognize Indian covid certificates. Even when the Delta variant strikes the UK in April and May, people in the UK showed their racist remarks at Indian people who lived in the UK years together. The UK government latest guidelines will create unnecessary doubts among the people.