EU countries soften their decision on Sinovac vaccine on international trips

The European Union’s strict stance on the Sinovac vaccine, which is one of the most widely used coronavirus vaccines in Turkey, is softening. Seven EU member states have also begun accepting the Sinovac vaccine on international trips.

One of the most curious questions to answer when the European Union began loosening restrictions on non-mandatory travel of third-country citizens who completed vaccination processes was whether the Chinese Sinovac vaccine, widely used in Turkey, would be accepted.

According to Turkish media, although EU countries initially approached this vaccine extremely distantly, there is an attitude that is starting to change, at this stage. Seven of the EU’s 27 members also allow non-mandatory travel for those vaccinated with Sinovac.

GREEN LIGHT FROM 7 COUNTRIES

The European Union (EU) countries that have given the green light to the entry of people who have received the Sinovac vaccine, provided that the process is proven to be completeD and that the country is not among the high-risk countries are Spain, The Netherlands, Austria, Greece, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Finland as reported in Turkish media.

For Turkish citizens who have received the Sinovac vaccine and completed two doses there are no barriers to travel to these countries with exemption from restrictions imposed on non-vaccinators. That is provided regular visa conditions are also met.

In the coming period, there is a possibility that new ones will be added to these countries in the EU.

WHO HAD GIVEN EMERGENCY USE APPROVAL

In May, the EU decided that third-country citizens who have had vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or included in the World Health Organization’s (who) Emergency Use list can also travel to the EU.

EMA-approved vaccines are automatically accepted in EU countries. In the beginning of the change in the approach to Sinovac, the inclusion of this vaccine on the WHO list was effective.

EMA, which has previously approved BioNTech / Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson&Johnson vaccines, is also undergoing a preliminary evaluation process initiated in early May for Sinovac.

Sinovac vaccine is used by 33 countries, including Turkey, especially China. No EU country has used this vaccine for its citizens.