An EU Own Goal?

Last week, the EU launched its digital Covid certificate. This certificate will allow vaccinated people to travel, without requirements for quarantine or further testing, throughout the EU's 27 countries. It appears, however, that people vaccinated with the Covishield vaccine (including some UK folk) may not be getting the certificate (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/04/eu-vaccination-india-astrazeneca). Covishield is simply the AstraZeneca vaccine, made under licence in India (a major producer of vaccines). The AstraZeneca vaccine (made elsewhere) is on the list approved by the EU's European Medicines Association (EMA). Covishield is approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is also going to be the main vaccine rolled out across Africa and to low to middle-income countries, to curb the Covid19 pandemic. All scientists think that getting the world vaccinated is essential. Otherwise new variants of the virus will continue to emerge. Most Covishield jabs given thus far to people in low-income countries, have been delivered by the WHO-led Covax programme. The EU, recognising its importance, have pledged £850m to support Covax. The EMA (and France) ruled that Covishield cannot be licenced under the AstraZeneca banner. They say this is because production conditions vary from location to location. AstraZeneca vaccine is produced, however, in the UK and Belgium, without requiring separate applications. There have been predictable claims of racism (notably from India). The omission of Covishield seems to be bureaucratic silliness. It helps neither the EU's standing nor attempts to control the pandemic.