Travellers from India who have taken the Covishield jab will now be allowed entry into France. The move to accept the Indian vaccine came after the outcry that the European Union’s COVID-19 certificate only recognizes AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in Europe.

France is also strictly checking borders to control the spread of Delta variant. Several other European countries accept the Indian version which is used in the UK and around Africa. France does not recognise Chinese and Russian vaccines; only those authorized by AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson&Johnson.

French President Emmanuel Macron ordered all health workers to get vaccinated by Sept. 15 and announced that special COVID-19 passes will be required in all restaurants, bars, hospitals, shopping malls, trains, and planes. To get a pass, people must be fully vaccinated, have recently recovered from the virus, or have a fresh negative virus test.