AstraZeneca "Indian" Batch

My wife has had two Covid vaccination jabs but the first was the Astra Zeneca “Indian” batch that has not been approved by EMA.

in Letters · 24 Sep 2021, 12:30 · 3 Comments

Vaccination to be moved to health centres

My wife has had two Covid vaccination jabs but the first was the Astra Zeneca “Indian” batch that has not been approved by EMA. I have checked your articles and readers comments and even wrote to my local MP! and still cannot obtain a definite answer to whether we can travel to mainland Portugal without being turned away at the airport. I am also double jabbed with Pfizer.

Andy Lowe

Disclaimer:
The views expressed on this page are those of the author and not of The Portugal News.

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Comments

It doesn’t matter which batch she or you have had. Mainland Portugal does not yet accept the NHS Covid pass as proof of vaccination. Anyone travelling to the country aged 12 or over must:

show a negative result from a PCR test taken less than 72 hours before you arrive in Portugal, or an approved lateral flow test within 48 hours (you should not use the NHS testing service but arrange to take a private test)
complete a passenger locator card
be prepared to be temperature-checked upon arrival
Children aged 11 and under do not need to take a test.

By Mark Thornton from UK on 24 Sep 2021, 16:50

The FAQ section of Portugal’s official imigrante.sef.pt website gives current entry requirements for travel to mainland Portugal. FAQ ‘I’m flying to mainland Portugal this month, am I allowed to enter’ and FAQ ‘I’m traveling to Portugal, do I need to submit a Covid test’ are particularly relevant.

On 2 September 2021, Portugal changed it’s entry requirements for U.K. nationals travelling from U.K. to Portugal. My understanding is that, for these travellers, their vaccination status is not relevant and is disregarded. Such travellers must provide an appropriate negative Covid test within the required timeframe (as detailed in the website mentioned above) in order to board a flight to Portugal and, if asked, to the Portuguese immigration officials at entry. The NHS Covid Pass (which shows vaccine received, batch number etc) is not valid in Portugal.

Prior to 2 September 2021, my understanding is that if a U.K. traveller had received the EU unlicensed AZ ‘Indian’ manufactured vaccine, they would be treated by the Portuguese authorities as having received only one dose of vaccine (the non’Indian’ AZ second dose). Providing they had provided evidence of a negative Covid test (see above), they would still be allowed entry to Portugal but would be required to self isolate for 14 days.

There is speculation in the U.K. press that the EU and U.K. governments are in negotiations and trials for the EU Covid Certificate and NHS Covid Pass to be acceptable on a reciprocal basis (no timescale for approval/implementation has been indicated as yet).

By Martin Halliday from UK on 25 Sep 2021, 12:55

Further update. As I understand it my wife would still have to test but I would not .. I think !

Portugal removes test requirement for vaccinated UK arrivals
By Ben Ireland | October 11, 2021, 16:07

Portugal is no longer asking fully vaccinated UK citizens to take a Covid-19 test on arrival into the country.
The updated entry requirement follows 21 weeks when Brits travelling to the mainland of Portugal had to take a test regardless of vaccination status or having taken a test before departing the UK.
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for Portugal to reflect the changes.
It applies to travellers who have an NHS Covid Pass or an EU digital Covid vaccination certificate showing you have been fully vaccinated with an EU approved Covid-19 vaccine at least 14 days before you travel, or an EU Covid recovery certificate showing you have recovered from Covid-19 no less than 11 days and no more than 180 days of when you are due to travel,
Fully vaccinated travellers must show a digital or paper copy of their Covid vaccination or recovery certificate when checking-in for their flights, and complete an online passenger locator card.
Those who do not have an NHS Covid Pass or an EU digital Covid certificate must take a pre-departure test before they travel, although children up to the age of 11 are exempt. They must also complete an online passenger locator card.
However, arrivals in Portugal with a temperature of 38ºC or over – or showing signs of being unwell – may be required to take a Covid-19 test and remain at the airport until test results are received.

By Andrew Lowe from UK on 16 Oct 2021, 09:12