With Italy’s recognition, a total of 19 European Union (EU) countries have given Covishield the green light.

This is the result of a meeting of G20 health ministers between Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and his Italian counterpart Roberto Speranza, the embassy said in a tweet.

“Indian vaccine card holders are now eligible for the Green Pass,” he added. Before that, Italy had recognized as valid the vaccines Comirnaty – Pfizer, Moderna, Vaxzervria – AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

The other 18 EU countries that have recognized the Covishield vaccine are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, the vaccine dispute with the UK continues as it has recognized the jab, but a 10-day quarantine has been made mandatory and will go into effect on October 4.

Calling the current UK travel restrictions discriminatory, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said “we have the right to reciprocate in the same way”.

However, UK High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis has said the Covishield vaccine is not a problem and the UK is open to travel.

“We are convinced that Covishield is not a problem. The UK is open to travel and we are already seeing a lot of people going from India to the UK, whether they are tourists, businessmen or students ”.