EMA had not received Covishield approval request for ‘Green Pass’

EU official reported to ANI that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has not received an authorisation request for the Covidshield vaccine, a version of the AstraZeneca vaccine being manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII).

Sources had informed us that  EMA doesn’t investigate new drugs on its own unless asked by relevant companies. However, the EU member has informed that issuing the digital “vaccine passport” that will enable travellers to move freely for work or tourism purposes, those vaccinated with Covishield may not be eligible for the ‘Green Pass’ that will be available to use from July 1.

The official report stated that EU Digital Covid Certificate is meant to facilitate restriction-free movement within the member states and is not a pre-condition to travel. The certificate will serve as proof that the person was either vaccinated against the virus, received a negative test result or recovered from it.

Currently, individuals vaccinated with any of the four EMA-approved vaccines are eligible for the “vaccine passport”. The four vaccines are Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Moderna, Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). The Digital Covid Certificate aims to give the option to accept vaccinations that have been authorised by the World Health Organization (WHO).

SII’s Adar Poonawalla on Monday Tweeted, “I realise that a lot of Indians who have taken COVISHIELD are facing issues with travel to the E.U., I assure everyone, I have taken this up at the highest levels and hope to resolve this matter soon, both with regulators and at a diplomatic level with countries,”