US must approve AstraZeneca vaccine to rescue transatlantic travel with UK

To help restore vital transatlantic travel, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called upon the US government to urgently speed up approval of the UK’s AstraZeneca vaccine. 

Though the leading health authority in the US, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) gave an approval to the Pfizer vaccine, AstraZeneca has still not been accepted as an approved Covid-19 vaccine. Even if the Biden administration allows the borders to reopen, the CDC’s refusal will be a significant impediment to transatlantic travel between the United Kingdom and the United States. 

“It’s crucial that the US authorities step forward to formally approve the AstraZeneca vaccine as a matter of urgency to enable cross-border mobility and the return of transatlantic travel between the UK and US. Unless it gives it the green light, the US will effectively remain closed to the vast majority of UK visitors and the many millions around the world who are double-jabbed with the AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Virginia Messina, WTTC Senior Vice President, adding, “This will leave airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, hotels and the entire travel and tourism infrastructure, which depends upon transatlantic travel, in significant trouble for the foreseeable future.”