The UK government will confront Malta over reports it refused to accept UK travellers vaccinated with an India-made batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the transport secretary has said. Grant Shapps said the vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India is “absolutely the same product” as batches made elsewhere. He made the comments in response to reports in The Telegraph that one couple—Steve, 64, and Glenda Hardy, 63, from Hull—were barred from a flight from Manchester to Malta because they had had the Indian-made jab. The “Covishield” batch made by the Serum Institute has not been authorised by Europe’s regulator and is not recognised by the EU despite being the same as other AstraZeneca vaccines. Speaking to “BBC Breakfast” on Wednesday, Shapps said the government will be taking the issue up with Maltese authorities. He said: “The [UK] medicines agency, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, have been very …