New Delhi: Ever since Britain's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency gave temporary authorisation to Covid-19 vaccines produced by US drugmaker Pfizer and German company BioNTech, people from India have expressed their interest to visit the UK.
"Yes, we are getting lots of queries from customers regarding travel formalities and as to where they can get vaccinated," Delhi-based Anuj Anand, manager, HIS travel agency told ETV Bharat on Saturday.
He said that people who have their visa have already got their tickets.
"So far we are not sure whether there will be any formalities or will the government in Britain make any procedures so that visiting people to the UK can also get the vaccine," said Anand.
Anand further said that his organisation would love to launch such a tour package where people can get the vaccine in the UK.
Though a Japanese company, HIS travel agency also makes bookings for other countries too.
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It was learned that other tour operators in the national capital have already started alluring people with Covid-19 vaccine packages.
Recently, a Mumbai based agency Gem Tours and Travels has reportedly announced a Covid-19 vaccine tourism package for its clients after Pfizer submitted an application to the US Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorisation of the vaccine.
The tour package offered by Gem Tours and Travels was reportedly priced at Rs 1,74,999. The package comprised of Mumbai-New York-Mumbai airfare, three night/four days stay along with a shot of the vaccine.
Officials of Gem Tours and Travels remained inaccessible for comments when ETV Bharat tried to contact.
Significantly, the UK has become the world's first country to issue go-ahead to a rigorously tested Covid-19 vaccine.
But the question is whether the vaccine will be available to the people from other countries as the authorities in Britain are trying hard to find an equitable way to distribute the limited number of doses among its own citizens.
When contacted, Dr Giridhar Gyani, Director General of the Association of Health Care Providers (AHPI) told this correspondent that it may not be easy for people from other countries to get the Covid-19 vaccine immediately.
"The Covid-19 vaccine in the UK at present will be distributed under the National Health Service (NHS). So, it may not be possible for others to get the vaccine immediately," said Dr Gyani.
NHS is a government-funded medical and healthcare services in Britain which ensures that everyone living in the UK gets proper healthcare services.
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Statistics show that more than five lakh Indians visited the UK between August 2018 to 2019. However, the number came down drastically following the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus.
Ironically, such vaccine tourism also attracts the attention of crime syndicates who will try to explore the opportunity to inject duplicate vaccine in the market.
Recently, the international police organisation (INTERPOL) has also issued an orange notice outlining the potential criminal activity in relation to the falsification, theft and illegal advertising of Covid-19 and flu vaccines.
Its notice circulated among its 194 members countries, INTERPOL has asked law enforcing agencies to prepare for organised crime networks targeting Covid-19 vaccine.
"No doubt, there will be anti-social elements who will definitely try to take advantage of the situation to make money and create chaos in the society," said Dr Gyani.
