Weeks after the United Kingdom first rejected and then accepted Covaxin as part of approved vaccines, France updates its own travel guidelines which again exclude Covaxin from list of approved vaccines.

The confusion over international acceptance of Covaxin, India’s first home grown Covid-19 vaccine continues as France omits Covaxin from list of approved vaccines in its new travel guidelines.

The list of vaccines accepted by France are those recognised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA): Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria/Covishield and Johnson & Johnson, says a statement by French government. However, Covaxin, which has been administered to at least 15 pc Indians, accounting for well over 150 million people, does not figure in this list.

The French, or European, rejection of Covaxin comes four months after the United Kingdom had done the same, while battling the onset of Omicron variant of Covid-19. Last year, the UK had a very public spat with India as it first refused to accept India’s CoWin vaccination certificate and then recognised only Covishield but kept Covaxin out of the list of approved vaccines. As India responded with its own strict quarantine conditions on visitors from the UK, in a tit for tat move, the UK reversed its decision and immediately recognised Covaxin and removed mandatory institutional quarantine for the Indian travellers.

Now, France seems to be on the same path as it issues a statement saying as of 24 January, a “vaccination pass” is now required for people aged 16 and over in almost all places where the Health Activity Pass (Pass Sanitaire) was previously necessary. The “vaccination pass” requires one of the below as proof of vaccination. A certificate of vaccination, two doses of approved vaccines or 1 dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. If second dose is more than seven months old, a booster is required. The other conditions for getting a vaccination pass include a certificate of recovery more than 11 days after the positive test and less than six months. A certificate of contraindication to vaccination.

Starting February 15, the validity of the vaccination certificate without a booster will be cut from seven months to four months. The “vaccination pass” is required for access to bars and restaurants, leisure activities (cinemas, museums, theatres, sports and entertainment venues, ski lifts in ski resorts, etc.), trade fairs and exhibitions, large shopping centres by decision of the prefects, Inter-regional transport (planes, trains, buses).

Exceptions

• The “vaccination pass” does not apply to adolescents between 12 and 15 years of age. However, they are required to have a “health pass” to access the places mentioned above (bars and restaurants, leisure activities, large shopping centres, inter-regional transport).
• The “health pass” is still accepted for access to hospitals, clinics, EHPAD and retirement homes, except in emergencies.
• The “health pass” may also be maintained for a limited period in certain territories by decision of the local authorities.
• For access to inter-regional transport, travellers who do not have a “vaccination pass” will be able to present a negative test in the event of a compelling family or health reason.

International travel to France

Travel between France and foreign countries is open according to rules that vary according to the health situation in other countries and the vaccination of travellers. A classification of countries into 3 colour categories (green, orange, red) has been defined on the basis of health indicators. India is in the orange category of countries.