People from other countries are confused by England's COVID-19 travel regulations. This is due to the English government's decision not to recognize certain vaccines.
England's travel rules were updated last week. It replaced the traffic light system by what Grant Shapps, transport secretary, described as a "new clearer" travel system. This gave rise to hope that COVID-19-vaccinated people would be able safely travel to England.
Many people who have been vaccinated still face restrictions when they travel from countries that offer solid vaccination programs and decrease COVID-19 cases.
Travelers from certain countries who have been fully vaccinated will still be subject to quarantine upon entry Getty Images
The new system allows travelers to be exempted from quarantine if they are fully vaccinated in accordance with the Pfizer Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson jabs. This is provided that the shots were administered in the UK, an EU country or from a relevant public healthcare agency in certain countries, such as the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, New Zealand, the Middle East, Asia, and the Caribbean. This means that those who have been vaccinated in Latin America, Africa and many Asian countries with the same shots are subject to stricter border protocols, including quarantine.
For instance, people coming from India are potentially required to quarantine for 10 days and undergo tests even if they are fully vaccinated with the Indian-made and World Health Organization-approved AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine. Harsh Shringla, India's foreign secretary, called the rules discriminatory according to the Associated Press. An editorial in The Hindustan Times called England's entry rules for Indians "illogical" and "harmful".
The UK government responded to public outcry by approving the AstraZeneca Covieshield vaccine. However, India is not yet on the approved list of countries that can receive the shot. According to the BBC, For now, those who have received the Covishield jab from the UK are considered to be vaccinated. However, Indians are not.
England's new travel regulations come into effect October 4, Getty Images/Image Source
Shringla's claims are echoed by Maiara Folly, a UK-based Brazilian international affairs and public policy researcher at Plataforma Cip. She believes that the new travel rules lack scientific foundation and are highly discriminatory, especially since many countries whose vaccine schemes are not yet recognised by the UK government have received vaccination donations from the UK.
She told Lonely Planet that it discredits vaccination programs in entire regions, without considering the context of specific countries. Many of these countries currently have lower COVID-19-related deaths and cases than the UK.
Although the Department for Transport was not immediately available for comment, the Associated Press reported that travelers could still benefit from the decision. According to the news agency Kenya's health minister and British ambassador to Kenya signed a joint statement reassuring citizens that they are working together to "erect a system to mutually recognise each other vaccine certificates for a vaccination passport program." However, it is still a slow process. The UK could also implement similar systems in other countries, as rules continue to evolve.
COVID-19 travel guidelines are continually evolving Aytac Unial/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The rules for accepting vaccines inbound are being modified by countries around the globe. The UK accepts only Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson vaccines, but Spain will accept any vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency, or any listed by the World Health Organization as being safe for use in an emergency. This includes Pfizer and Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm and Sinovac.
Many people wait to see the list of vaccines that will accept travelers who have been vaccinated in the US.
Introducing England
