BRITS who were given the Indian-made Astrazeneca vaccine will have to wait another month to travel to several EU countries.
The problem centres on doses made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), known as Covishield, which has been given to roughly five million people in the UK. .
Travellers from the UK require a proof of vaccine in order to enter several countries in the EU, or to skip quarantine on arrival.
Despite the jab being the same as other AstraZeneca vaccines, it has not been authorised by Europe's regulator and is therefore not recognised by the EU.
According to The Telegraph, the SII believes it will take weeks to resolve the issue with the EU, leaving Brits with holidays booked unsure of whether they will be able to go.
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister said there was no reason Brits should be banned from Europe because they've been jabbed with AstraZeneca doses made in India.
Some EU states, plus Iceland and Switzerland, said they would accept the jabs produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII).
But Brits vaccinated with the Indian version of the Astrazeneca vaccine have already been barred from boarding a flight to Malta.
Steve and Glenda Hardy, 64 and 63, weren't allowed on at Manchester Airport last Friday, the Telegraph reported.
The couple, from Hull, were jabbed with the Indian-manufactured vaccine in March – but staff from travel operator Tui stopped them while boarding.
However, Malta has since backed down from their travel ban on Brits jabbed with an Indian-made AstraZeneca vaccine, Grant Shapps confirmed yesterday.
The Transport Secretary tweeted yesterday afternoon: "The Maltese authorities have amended their travel advice so anyone who has an OXFORD AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK (regardless of manufacture location) is able to travel without being turned away – with all vaccines having gone through rigorous safety and quality checks."
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