Indian-made Astrazeneca vaccine: UK travellers who had jab barred from Malta - how to check which vaccine you got

15 countries are currently still allowing travellers who have had the Indian made jab
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UK travellers are being barred from boarding flights after receiving an Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine that is not licensed in the EU.

The vaccine, which has been authorised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has yet to be approved by the European Medicines Agency and so is now accepted by the EU vaccine passport scheme.

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(Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP)(Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP)
(Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP)

At a glance: 5 key points

– Holidaymakers have been barred from boarding flights to several European destinations if they received an Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

– The vaccine was authorised by the WHO, but has yet to be approved by the European Medicine Agency, so it is not accepted by the EU vaccine passport scheme.

– The Malta Tourism Authority updated guidance to make it clear that the Indian-manufactured AstraZeneca doses used in the UK could not be used to enter the country. 15 countries, including Spain, Greece and Germany, have said they will accept the Indian-made vaccine.

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– The Department of Health and Social Care had previously insisted that no Britons who had received the Indian-made jabs would be negatively impacted.

– The batch numbers for the Indian manufactured doses, produced by the Serum Institute of India and known as Covishield, appear on the Covid Travel Pass in the NHS App (4120Z001, 4120Z002 and 4120Z003).

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How to check what vaccine batch you got

If you are unsure what vaccine batch number you have had it is possible to check via the NHS app.

Batch numbers can be viewed by accessing your NHS app. This is not the app that you use to check into bars and venues.

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Next, click ‘Get you NHS Covid Pass’. Within this option you can also get your ‘certificate’ for travel, and your ‘vaccine passport’.

Your vaccine batch number can also be found written or stamped on the blue vaccine card you may have been issued after receiving your first jab.

Which countries will allow travellers who have had the Indian AstraZeneca jab?

Fifteen countries have now confirmed they will accept travellers who have received the Indian produced AstraZeneca jab.

These include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

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