While countries like Japan deciding to issue “vaccine passports” as proof of immunisation for its citizens travelling abroad, India on Thursday said that it will favour discussion with a greater focus on vaccine equity, since many developing nations are yet to inoculate a large per cent of their population.
“As you are aware, there is an ongoing global debate on this issue of so-called vaccine passports. We feel that this has to be linked to the larger issue of vaccine equity given that many developing countries have not yet been able to vaccinate a large per cent of their population,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, adding: “We would favour discussions on the subject of vaccine passports with greater focus on vaccine equity.”
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had during a G7 plus ministerial session earlier this month conveyed India’s strong opposition to the idea of a ‘vaccine passport’.