Portugal accepts Covishield vaccine for travellers

The country originally refused to recognise the Indian-manufactured vaccine Covishield, but now Portugal’s Directorate-General of Health has changed this policy, according to reports.

The move will be a boost for the UK tourism market to Portugal with those receiving this version of the AstraZeneca vaccine currently having to quarantine for two weeks. The health authority is currently putting into place the new policy, according to reports in Portugal.

There had been some confusion about whether visitors who received the Covishield vaccine would face quarantine when visiting EU countries, with only a few member states accepting the vaccine. The problem has arisen because the European Medicines Agency has yet to formally recognise the Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca jab.