Good news for Indian travellers! Covaxin will be added to the approved list in the United Kingdom on November 22

The UK government has announced that India’s Covaxin will be added to its list of approved COVID-19 vaccines for international travellers beginning November 22, meaning that those immunised with the Bharat Biotech-manufactured jab will not need to self-isolate upon arrival in England.

The move follows the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Emergency Use Listing for Covaxin, India’s second most commonly used formulation. Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured in India, was added to the UK’s approved list last month.

More good news for Indian visitors to the United Kingdom. From the 22nd of November, travellers fully vaccinated with a COVID19 vaccine recognised by WHO for Emergency Use Listing, including Covaxin, will not be required to self-isolate; instead, they will be able to join those fully vaccinated with Covishield.” On Monday, Alex Ellis, the British High Commissioner to India, posted on Twitter.

The modifications will take effect at 4 a.m. on November 22.

Aside from Covaxin, the UK government will recognise China’s Sinovac and Sinopharm, both of which are on the WHO Emergency Use List, as approved vaccines for inbound travel, benefiting fully vaccinated people from the UAE and Malaysia.

These fully vaccinated passengers will not be required to take a pre-departure test, a day-8 test, or to self-isolate when they arrive.

“As we continue to recover from the pandemic and broaden our acceptance of international vaccines, today’s announcements mark the next step in our resumption of international travel,” said UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

“The red list and quarantine system continue to be critical in protecting our borders, and as we’ve said, we will not hesitate to take action by adding countries to the red list if necessary,” UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said.

The UK government has also made it easier for all under-18s visiting England to travel. They will now be treated at the border as fully vaccinated and will be exempt from self-isolation requirements on arrival, day-8 testing, and pre-departure testing.

If they test positive, they will only be required to take one post-arrival test and a confirmatory free PCR test.