The Indian Embassy in Rome has announced today that after a meeting held between the Minister of Health of India, Mansukh Mandaviya, and his Italian counterpart, Roberto Speranza, the Italian Ministry of Health has decided to recognise the Indian-made vaccine, Covishield, as valid proof of immunity.
Consequently, this means that those who have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease with the Covishield vaccine can now enter Italy. Additionally, everyone immunised with the jab is now eligible to obtain the Italian Green Pass, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“As an outcome of G20Health Ministers’ meeting btw Hon’ble @mansukhmandviya & Italian Health Minister @robersperanza coupled with @MEAIndia persistent efforts @MinisteroSalute recognises India’s Covishield. Indian vaccine CardHolders are now eligible for GreenPass,” the Embassy of India in Rome, Italy, wrote on its official Twitter account.
The Italian Green Pass is an extension of the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate, which means that Italy recognises all other equivalent passes issued by other countries, regardless if they are part of the EU or not. However, it hasn’t been revealed yet what requirements will apply to those arriving from a third country.
As a result, since the Italian authorities have not made an official announcement yet, it is still unknown whether those who have been immunised with Covishield will have to follow entry restrictions, such as pre-departure testing when entering Italy.
Up until today, Italy had only recognised the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax), Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) – meaning that only those immunised with one of the four vaccines were considered fully vaccinated when entering the country.
After the vaccines that have been approved for use by EMA, the Indian-manufactured Covishield vaccine is most widely recognised by the EU countries. Until now, only 18 EU countries recognised Covishield. However, since Italy has joined the list, the number has increased to 19.
As such, except for Italy, Covishield is recognised as valid proof of immunity by all the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Netherlands
- Romania
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Previously, Italy made Green Pass mandatory for all persons who want to have access to certain services, places and activities. As a result, since September 1, all those who wish to attend any form of public transport, including aeroplanes, busses, and ferries, must present the pass.
Additionally, access to restaurants, theatres, museums, sports events, swimming pools, amusement parks, gyms, spas, meetings and conferences, among others, is limited only to those who prove that they have been vaccinated or recovered from the virus.
