With vaccine status in India unclear, many Indians mulling UK trip for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

With no clarity on when a COVID-19 vaccine would be available in the country, many Indians are mulling a visit to the UK where the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is being rolled out next week after the British government approved its use on Wednesday, becoming the first country to do so.

Travel agents have started receiving enquiries from Indians who want to travel to the UK as soon as possible to get vaccinated, according to an NDTV report.

A Mumbai-based travel agent told PTI that some people on Wednesday raised queries on "how and when and if" they can travel to the UK to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

NDTV quoted Nishant Pitti, Co-founder and CEO of EaseMyTrip.com as saying that he has already received queries from some Indians who have got UK visas and can afford to go to London. He said his company is planning to launch a three-night package for those interested in travelling to the UK for the purpose of vaccination only.

On Wednesday, a Bengaluru-based travel company said Indians are asking if a short trip, without quarantine, to the UK to get the Pfizer vaccine was possible.

Recent UK government rules state that from December 15, every international arrival in the UK would have to remain in self isolation for five days and then get the RT-PCR test done on the sixth day. The passenger can leave isolation on the sixth day if found COVID-negative in the test.