The UK government announced that fully vaccinated travellers from Nigeria can travel to England without needing a pre-departure covid test from the 11th of October.
This was disclosed in a statement by the British High Commission, viewed by Nairametrics, in Abuja on Thursday.
They also revealed that the policy includes Nigerians vaccinated with the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
“This policy applies to those fully vaccinated with Astra Zeneca (including Covidshield), Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson).
“Fully vaccinated means that you have had a complete course of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before you arrive in England.
“The day you had your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days. You must be able to prove that you have been fully vaccinated under a vaccination programme and have a valid proof of vaccination recognised by the British Government (for Nigeria, the certificates with valid QR codes as issued by Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare Development Agency are recognised),” they said.
For Nigerians who are not fully vaccinated, they are advised to take a pre-departure Covid test 3 days before travel, book and pay for day 2 and day 8 covid tests to be taken on arrival and complete a passenger locator form, anytime in the 48 hours before arrival.
Ben Llewellyn-Jones, Acting High Commissioner to Nigeria said, “The exemption of fully vaccinated Nigerians travelling to the Uk from providing a pre-departure test and self-isolating for 10 days, is a very welcome development.
“To make this happen, we have been working closely with Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency on recognising Nigeria’s vaccine certification, which we have now done.”
Recall that High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, reacted to claims that the United Kingdom does not recognise the Covid-19 vaccines being administered in Nigeria. Laing debunked such statements, describing them as completely untrue and to be disregarded.
“The UK strongly supports the work of the Nigerian health authorities and Nigeria’s vaccination campaign, and strongly encourages all eligible residents in Nigeria to get vaccinated. Only once we are all vaccinated can we end the spread of COVID-19.
“I would like to emphasise that any statements that COVID-19 vaccines administered in Nigeria are not approved by the UK are completely untrue,” she said, citing that the UK recognises the Oxford-Astra Zeneca, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines used in Nigeria, irrespective of where they are manufactured.
