The transport secretary believes “confusion” over versions of Covid AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in India may be behind the decision of some countries to block UK visitors who have received certain batches of the jab.
Around five million UK residents have received jabs from the affected batches, with countries including Malta updating entry requirements and insisting they are not recognised.
The affected batches produced by India’s Serum Institute are 4120Z001, 4120Z002 and 4120Z003.
Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, Grant Shapps said it was “not right” that UK residents were being blocked from travelling and said he believed there could be confusion over a version of the jab also made by the Serum Institute that is not used in the UK.
He said: “[People being barred from travel] is not right and it shouldn’t be happening in our view. The medicines agency (MHRA) have been very clear that it doesn’t matter whether the AstraZeneca that you have is made here or in India.
“It’s exactly the same product and provides exactly the same certification and level of protection from the virus.
“We’ll certainly speak to our Maltese colleagues to point all this out. It’s up to them what they do but we will be making the scientific point in the strongest terms that there is no difference.”
He added: “I think there may be some confusion because the Serum Institute also manufactures the Covishield version which is not MHRA-approved.
“The Covishield version is not distributed in this country so no UK-vaccinated person has received that particular version and I think that may clear it up.”