The United Kingdom has approved the COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin for travel into the country. This will now allow tourists and international students (particularly from India) vaccinated with Covaxin to enter the UK.
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UK Approves Bharat Biotech, Sinopharm, Sinovac Vaccines
On Monday, UK’s Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care released a notice about the approval. UK has now added vaccines from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd., state-owned Sinopharm, and India’s Bharat Biotech International Ltd. to the list used to grant entry with proof of full vaccination.
The United Kingdom will now accept all seven COVID-19 vaccines with emergency approval from the World Health Organization, including India’s Covaxin. Covaxin received approval from the UN agency in early November this year.
Australia, USA also accepting WHO Emergency Approved Vaccines
The United Kingdom is following in the footsteps of Australia and the United States. Australia increased the number of vaccines it recognizes last month. The USA also stated it would accept all WHO-approved vaccines when opening borders to foreign passengers earlier this month.
Relaxation for Chinese Students
Thousands of Chinese students who have received home-grown vaccines will be able to attend school in the UK as a result of this decision. A UK university admissions service provider UCAS released a report in October. According to it, UK universities have received record levels of undergraduate applications from Chinese nationals this time. China most frequently uses the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines for inoculation. Furthermore, the country has vaccinated more than 80% of its population, making its home vaccines necessary for international approval.
According to data from the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency, China accounts for the majority of international students in the United Kingdom. Their families also pay significant income to universities there each year. This year, more than 4,500 Chinese students sought undergraduate admission to schools and institutions in the UK. This is a 33% increase since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Visitors entering the UK who are not completely vaccinated must undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing and be quarantined for ten days.
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