Policy Alert #238 | October 15, 2021
Vaccination rates worldwide have shot up, but what about travel to and from rising powers?
Many countries have decided to open their borders and permit international travel for those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, every country has the right to decide its own rules related to the types of vaccines it allows for travel, leading to travel woes. Among the rising powers, China, India, and Russia are all vaccine producers. But there is no reciprocity in vaccine acceptance between countries that produce them. Moreover, changes to travel regulations have caused disputes between some countries, as in the case of India and the U.K., when India initially failed to make the list for Britain’s most recent easing of travel restrictions.
As for the U.S., on September 20, the White House announced new rules to take effect in early November, saying it would lift restrictions on air travelers from 33 countries, including China, India, and most of Europe, if they show proof of vaccination. This long-awaited announcement raises the question as to which vaccines will be accepted. According to a CDC spokesperson, foreign tourists vaccinated with a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) will meet the criteria. This includes Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Indian-made Covishield, and China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is not currently on the accepted list, meaning that most Russians and others inoculated with Sputnik V may be prohibited from entering the U.S. The CDC will release additional guidance as travel requirements are finalized.
This is a fast-changing situation as countries are continuously updating their travel regulations.
What is the current travel scenario for rising powers’ citizens or visitors?
