Chinese, Indian, sub-licensed Brazil jab valid for Covid certificates

  • Lusa
  • 8 February 2022

The authorities in Portugal now accept the Chinese vaccines Sinopharm (Vero Cell) and Sinovac (Coronavac), as well as those produced by the Indian multinational Bharat Biotech International (Covaxin).

The authorities in Portugal now accept, for the purposes of issuing Covid-19 certificates, the Chinese vaccines Sinopharm (Vero Cell) and Sinovac (Coronavac), as well as those produced by the Indian multinational Bharat Biotech International (Covaxin).

According to a joint circular from Infarmed and the Directorate General of Health (DGS), vaccines against Covid-19 authorised in third countries, sublicensed by the marketing authorisation holder, will also be accepted for the issuance of a certificate, including in this group the vaccines from producers Verity Pharmaceuticals (Canada), Fiocruz (Brazil) and R-Pharm (Russia).

Until now, Infarmed only validated for the use of the digital certificate vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA): the Moderna, Pfizer, Janssen, AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria – with the designation AZD1222) and India’s Covovax.

“The completion of primary vaccination schedules started in other countries and/or the administration of booster doses after completion of primary vaccination schedules carried out in other countries, as well as the transcription of the corresponding vaccination acts should follow the DGS recommendations,” reads the note.

The circular also recalls that, at present, several vaccines are used against Covid-19 with different regulatory frameworks, “which means that citizens can arrive in the national territory vaccinated with vaccines and vaccination schedules different from those recommended in Portugal.

Since Monday, a negative test is no longer required to enter Portugal for passengers who present the European Union’s digital Covid certificate (of vaccination or recent recovery from the disease) or other recognised proof of vaccination.