United Kingdom&rsquos (UK&rsquos) approval for the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has made it the first country in the world ready for mass immunisation. This has not only brought cheer to the pandemic riddled world but also created a stir in India.
Although winter travel to England is not popular with Indian tourists, the lure of the vaccine has prompted many to seek details about any possible trip, say leading travel agents.
According to media reports, the vaccines have started arriving in the UK in batches from the research centre in Belgium. For the time being, the health department is busy figuring out the storage and subsequent countrywide distribution, prioritising who will receive the shots initially and how it will be organised. If all goes well, mass immunisation will grow rapidly in the UK in the coming year.
There has been no talk yet if people outside the country will be eligible to visit England to receive the vaccine. But that has not stopped many Indians from contemplating a trip to England to get the much coveted shot.
The air bubble contract between India and the UK which has eased travel between the two countries is also a key reason that has people hoping for a &lsquovaccine trip&rsquo to England. The bulk of the inquiry appears to be from those who already have UK visas and can afford the trip, reports said.
While the inquiries seem promising to travel agents in India, they are still awaiting clarity about the rules &ndash if Indians will be allowed to take the vaccine in the UK, if quarantine rules will apply, etc. Meanwhile they are preparing short duration packages if the travel plans go through.
According to latest reports, Bahrain has become the second country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
