On Friday, 17th September UK government announced the latest travel rules. The new rules suggest that those who have been vaccinated with both the doses of AstraZeneca in their red listed countries would be considered unvaccinated and they would have to follow the 10days quarantine protocol. This move would affect Indians who no longer would be considered vaccinated. These rules would be in effect from 4th October.
This is an attempt by the government to change the red, amber or green traffic light system to a red list of countries. As per the new rules, only the people who have the double doses of AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna or a single shot of Janssen vaccine under the approved vaccinated programs in UK, Europe, US or UK vaccine programs overseas would be considered fully vaccinated.
They would also consider people who have been vaccinated under the public health programs in Australia Antigua, Barbados, Barbuda, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Dominica, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan as fully vaccinated.
This would mean that Indians who have been vaccinated by any of the local vaccination programs would be considered unvaccinated and would have to undergo mandatory 10 days immunisation program.
This move is going to affect the students who plan to study abroad. They would have to pay extra for the quarantine period and tests as well. This has caused unrest in countries like Africa, Russia Thailand, Turkey which have been using the Oxford Astrazeneca, Pzier, Moderna (the same vaccines that have been used in Britain) .
The government is likely to address the issue soon and hopefully come to a decision that would benefit the Indian travellers.
