After vaccine nationalism, are India and the developing world suffering vaccine racism?

This week, the UK is easing restrictions for travellers from a number of countries, who will not have to undergo mandatory quarantines, if they have taken a recognised vaccine. Indian-made Covishield, an Astrazeneca variant is on the list of approved vaccines after a major protest by India but India itself is not yet on the list of countries that will be given the exemption. Simply put, if you have been vaccinated in India, you will have to quarantine for 10 days and test negative twice in order to be allowed out in the UK. This is indeed a long way from January this year, when PM Boris Johnson and PM Modi were expected to announce a vaccine partnership using Indian manufacture and British expertise to produce vaccines for the world.

At the UN, PM Modi said he was proud of India's vaccines: DNA, MRNA, and soon a nasal vaccine.

The British rule has been taken up by External Affairs Minister Jaishankar with his UK counterpart Liz Truss, and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said the rules are discriminatory and would incur reciprocal action from India

Read on why it is a discrimination and more here

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