The Italian authorities have announced that since last Thursday, September 23, all versions of the AstraZeneca vaccine are considered equivalent to the other vaccines that have already been approved for use by the country’s authorities.
This means that all travellers who have been immunised with an AstraZeneca version other than the one that has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be allowed to enter the country under the same rules as the others, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Consequently, all foreign nationals who have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease with one of the following three versions of the AstraZeneca vaccine are considered fully vaccinated when entering Italy:
- Covishield (Serum Institute of India)
- R-CoVI (R-Pharm)
- Covid-19 vaccine-recombinant (Fiocruz)
“The certificates issued by health authorities in Canada, Japan, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, as well as those issued by foreign health authorities following vaccination with EMA-authorised vaccines or with Covishield (Serum Institute of India), R-CoVI (R-Pharm), and Covid-19vaccine-recombinant (Fiocruz) vaccines, are recognised as equivalent to national and EU digital green certificates,” the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reads.
However, it has been highlighted that in order for the vaccination certificates issued by foreign health authorities to be valid, they should be issued in Italian, English, French, Spanish, or German.
In addition, the vaccination certificate must hold all the following information on the holder:
- Name and surname
- Name of the vaccine that has been administered
- Name of the manufacturer
- The date on which each vaccine dose has been administered
- Name of the issuing body
- Name of the issuing country
As soon as the Italian authorities decided to recognise Covishield as valid proof of immunity, the Embassy of India in Rome welcomed the decision, and those vaccinated with the dose can now apply for the Green Pass.
“As an outcome of G20Health Ministers’ meeting btw Hon’ble @mansukhmandviya & Italian Health Minister @robersperanza coupled with @MEAIndia persistent efforts @MinisteroSalute recognises India’s Covishield. Indian vaccine CardHolders are now eligible for GreenPass,” the Embassy wrote on its official Twitter account.
The Italian Green Pass is an extension of the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate, meaning that Italy recognises all other equivalents that have been issued by other countries, regardless if they are part of the European Union or not.
Before these changes were made, Italy recognised only the vaccines that have been approved by EMA – AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax), Johnson & Johnson (Janssen).
Previously, Italy made Green Pass mandatory for all those who want to attend certain places, activities, and services.
