The US and Western Europe do not recognise Chinese-made vaccines, and Iceland also doesn’t permit entry to those with Russian jabs

Millions worldwide can’t choose which shots they receive, and countries being selective about which shots are recognised leaves them with limited travel options

But it is in China that this trend is emerging most starkly, with the country so far recognising only Chinese-made shots and its vaccines not approved in the US or Western Europe.

For millions of people worldwide who cannot choose which vacines they get, the risk of more places becoming selective about which shots they recognise, especially given the vaccines’ varying efficacy rates, creates the possibility that even fully inoculated, people’s travel could still be limited – with consequences for international business activity and the tourism industry.

“It will risk the world being divided into vaccine silos based on vaccine nationalism rather than medical necessity.”