&nbsp;India's National Health Authority CEO RS Sharma on Wednesday said he was not aware of any concerns being raised by the UK about India's Covid&nbsp;vaccine certification and stressed that the Co-WIN system is WHO-compliant.

Indian travellers vaccinated with two doses of Covishield will still have to undergo 10 days of quarantine in the UK even after the vaccine was approved under the revised guidelines for travel on Wednesday.

British officials suggested the main issue is Covid vaccine certification and not the Covishield vaccine and that both India and the UK are holding talks to mutually resolve the matter.

"I am not aware of any concerns being raised by the UK. The British High Commissioner met me on September 2 and wanted to know details about the Co-WIN system. 
"So we connected their technical team with our technical teams that had two rounds of discussion, with the second one being just yesterday. They have conveyed to us there is no need for any further discussion as all information has been exchanged between the two parties," Sharma told PTI.

He further said the Co-WIN system is WHO compliant and that so far they have not received any communication about any concerns from the Ministry of External Affairs or the British High Commission.

Referring to the latest guidelines issued by the UK government that will come into effect on October 4, the UK officials said on Wednesday that London does not have any problem with the Covishield vaccine but there are certain issues related to vaccine certification in India.

They said the UK is engaging with the government of India to explore how it could expand its recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India. 
Quoting new guidelines, the officials said Indian travellers to the UK must follow the "non-vaccinated rules" set out by the authorities.

India had on Tuesday warned of "reciprocal measures" if the UK does not address its concerns over the new travel rules relating to COVID-19 vaccine certification with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla describing these norms as "discriminatory".

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also took up the issue of Covishield-vaccinated travellers being required to quarantine in the UK with newly-appointed British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss at a meeting in New York on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the UK government added Covishield, the Indian-manufactured Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, to an updated international travel advisory.

Asked whether the problem is with India's vaccine certification, British High Commissioner Alex Ellis said on Wednesday that the UK government is trying to understand how the Indian COVID vaccine app works and that it is a two-way process.

He said the UK government is letting India know how its COVID app functions, adding both sides are going through a normal technical process to resolve any issue.

"This is happening at an extraordinary speed," he said

"The UK is committed to opening up international travel again as soon as is practicable and this announcement is a further step to enable people to travel more freely again, in a safe and

sustainable way, while protecting public health," a spokesperson in the British High Commission said.

"We are engaging with the Government of India to explore how we could expand UK recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India," the official said.

India's National Health Authority CEO RS Sharma on Wednesday said he was not aware of any concerns being raised by the UK about India's Covid vaccine certification and stressed that the Co-WIN system is WHO-compliant.

India's National Health Authority CEO RS Sharma on Wednesday said he was not aware of any concerns being raised by the UK about India's Covid vaccine certification and stressed that the Co-WIN system is WHO-compliant. Indian travellers vaccinated with two doses of Covishield will still have to undergo 10 days of quarantine in the UK even after the vaccine was approved under the revised guidelines for travel on Wednesday. British officials suggested the main issue is Covid vaccine certification and not the Covishield vaccine and that both India and the UK are holding talks to mutually resolve the matter. "I am not aware of any concerns being raised by the UK. The British High Commissioner met me on September 2 and wanted to know details about the Co-WIN system. "So we connected their technical team with our technical teams that had two rounds of discussion, with the second one being just yesterday. They have conveyed to us there is no need for any further discussion as all information has been exchanged between the two parties," Sharma told PTI. He further said the Co-WIN system is WHO compliant and that so far they have not received any communication about any concerns from the Ministry of External Affairs or the British High Commission. Referring to the latest guidelines issued by the UK government that will come into effect on October 4, the UK officials said on Wednesday that London does not have any problem with the Covishield vaccine but there are certain issues related to vaccine certification in India. They said the UK is engaging with the government of India to explore how it could expand its recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India. Quoting new guidelines, the officials said Indian travellers to the UK must follow the "non-vaccinated rules" set out by the authorities. India had on Tuesday warned of "reciprocal measures" if the UK does not address its concerns over the new travel rules relating to COVID-19 vaccine certification with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla describing these norms as "discriminatory". External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also took up the issue of Covishield-vaccinated travellers being required to quarantine in the UK with newly-appointed British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss at a meeting in New York on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the UK government added Covishield, the Indian-manufactured Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, to an updated international travel advisory. Asked whether the problem is with India's vaccine certification, British High Commissioner Alex Ellis said on Wednesday that the UK government is trying to understand how the Indian COVID vaccine app works and that it is a two-way process. He said the UK government is letting India know how its COVID app functions, adding both sides are going through a normal technical process to resolve any issue. "This is happening at an extraordinary speed," he said "The UK is committed to opening up international travel again as soon as is practicable and this announcement is a further step to enable people to travel more freely again, in a safe and sustainable way, while protecting public health," a spokesperson in the British High Commission said. "We are engaging with the Government of India to explore how we could expand UK recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India," the official said.

Not aware of any concerns being raised by the UK, says India's top health official on vaccine certification issue

As India gets set to begin its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine-to-cost-rs200-a-vial-in-india-purchase-order-placed-with-sii-reports-356029">vaccination</a> drive against coronavirus on January 16, three trucks carrying "Covishield" vaccine reached Pune airport from Serum Institute of India&nbsp;on&nbsp;Tuesday morning to be transported to various parts of the country.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-set-to-begin-worlds-biggest-vaccination-drive-says-pm-modi-while-interacting-with-cms-356049/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The first flight carrying the coronavirus vaccine "Covishield"&nbsp;departed from Pune International Airport to Delhi on Tuesday.

Serum Institute of India's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-vaccines-more-affordable-than-any-other-on-the-globe-pm-modi-356039">vaccine</a> "Covishield" will be shipped to different locations in the country from Pune airport.

Reports said at least eight flights will transport the "Covishield" vaccine from thirteen different locations today. The authorities have undertaken elaborate measures in order to ensure the safe passage of the vaccines, police said.

Ajay Singh, Managing Director, SpiceJet said: "SpiceJet has carried India’s first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine today. The first consignment of "Covishield" consisting of 34 boxes and weighing 1,088 kg was carried from Pune to Delhi."

PM Modi during his interaction with CMs of various states on Monday had said that "our vaccines are more affordable than any other vaccine on the globe. If India needed vaccine from other countries, it would've been a big challenge."

"India's vaccination experience will help during COVID-19 vaccination programme," PM Modi added. Indian authorities have given top priority to healthcare workers and frontline workers in the first phase of vaccination drive.

India has been hit hard due to the virus with over 10.4 million coronavirus cases and 151,160 deaths.&nbsp;

With ANI inputs

As India gets set to begin its vaccination drive against coronavirus on January 16, three trucks carrying "Covishield" vaccine reached Pune airport from Serum Institute of India on Tuesday morning to be transported to various parts of the country.

As India gets set to begin its vaccination drive against coronavirus on January 16, three trucks carrying "Covishield" vaccine reached Pune airport from Serum Institute of India on Tuesday morning to be transported to various parts of the country. Watch: The first flight carrying the coronavirus vaccine "Covishield" departed from Pune International Airport to Delhi on Tuesday. Serum Institute of India's vaccine "Covishield" will be shipped to different locations in the country from Pune airport. Reports said at least eight flights will transport the "Covishield" vaccine from thirteen different locations today. The authorities have undertaken elaborate measures in order to ensure the safe passage of the vaccines, police said. Ajay Singh, Managing Director, SpiceJet said: "SpiceJet has carried India’s first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine today. The first consignment of "Covishield" consisting of 34 boxes and weighing 1,088 kg was carried from Pune to Delhi." PM Modi during his interaction with CMs of various states on Monday had said that "our vaccines are more affordable than any other vaccine on the globe. If India needed vaccine from other countries, it would've been a big challenge." "India's vaccination experience will help during COVID-19 vaccination programme," PM Modi added. Indian authorities have given top priority to healthcare workers and frontline workers in the first phase of vaccination drive. India has been hit hard due to the virus with over 10.4 million coronavirus cases and 151,160 deaths. With ANI inputs

First flight of coronavirus vaccine Covishield flown to Delhi

India's first coronavirus vaccine 'COVAXIN' human trials will begin on July 21 at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Delhi after its Ethics Committee gave its nod. COVAXIN is an indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine. Watch report.

'Covaxin' human trial begins in AIIMS: Phase 1 & 2 trials of potential vaccine