The Malaysian Insight

THE European Union’s (EU) Digital Covid Certificate is not a prerequisite for travel into EU countries, a spokesperson for the European Commission told The Malaysian Insight.

Commission spokesman for health, food safety and transport Stefan De Keermaecker said member states also have the option to recognise vaccination with vaccines that do not correspond to those centrally authorised in the EU.

“The digital certificate is a practical tool that can facilitate travel into countries where restrictions are lifted,” he said.

“When a EU digital covid certificate, or a third-country certificate has been issued, which indicates vaccination with a vaccine that does not correspond to one centrally authorised in the EU, each member state has the option to recognise it,” he said.

It was recently reported that the EU only recognises the Vaxzevria brand of the AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured in the UK and Europe for its digital Covid-19 certificate, which came into effect on July 1.

This has created confusion on whether travellers vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in plants in Asia, including India, will be denied entry into the EU states.

Malaysia is currently using the AstraZeneca vaccine produced in South Korea, Thailand and Japan.

De Keermaecker said although it is stated that entry into the EU should be allowed to people fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines authorised in the EU, it doesn’t mean that the vaccines have to be produced in facilities covered by the marketing authorisation in the EU.

He added that member states can also allow entry to people who have been vaccinated with vaccines that have completed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) emergency use listing process.

De Keermaecker said travellers undertaking non-essential travel into the EU should possess a valid proof of Covid-19 vaccination.

This does not necessarily have to be a digital Covid-19 certificate as member states are free to accept documentation issued in third countries for vaccination.

The document should contain pertinent information such as the person’s identity, the type of vaccine and the date of the administration of the vaccine.

“When it comes to the EU digital certificate, there are two possible ways of recognising certificates for travellers from abroad.

“First, where the national health system allows for it, member states may issue an EU digital covid certificate on a case-by-case basis for persons vaccinated in a third country with a vaccine that has been authorised in the EU or that has been listed by the WHO for emergency use,” he said.

He said it is for member states to verify if the holder presents reliable proof of such a vaccination.

Member states are, however, not required to issue certificates for a vaccine that is not authorised on their territory.

“The Commission may adopt an equivalence decision for a third country Covid-19 certificate, which will then be considered as equivalent to the EU digital covid certificates,” the Brussels-based spokesman said.

He, however, said this is only possible when the certificates issued by a third country are inter-operable with the EU certificate’s technical standards. 

Coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Khairy Jamaluddin had earlier said that Covid-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation should be recognised by all countries.

Khairy added that there is no reason for the European bloc to “discriminate” between the different manufacturing locations as all of them comply with good manufacturing practices. – July 7, 2021.