Some states start vaccinations for students heading abroad

Shreya Bhandary, Priyanka Sahoo and Ramesh Babu

MUMBAI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At least five states have started vaccinating on priority students above the age of 18 who have been accepted by foreign universities and those seeking employment abroad, providing them immunisation certificates to facilitate their entry to other countries, according to officials.

Restrictions prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown on travel and fear of infections dampened the hopes of aspirants who wished to study in foreign universities last year. While many chose to pursue their courses online, others put off their plans, hoping to attend classes on campus in 2021.

On Monday, Andhra Pradesh became the latest state to announce priority vaccination of students. “Covid-19 vaccine to be administered to students wanting to go abroad to pursue education, and to those who want to go abroad for jobs. Vaccination certificate to be issued to the aforementioned,” read a statement issued by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s office.

The other states that have launched similar drives are Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana.

The Pune Municipal Corporation and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation began vaccinating such students days after state tourism minister Aditya Thackeray announced the drive. “My friends managed to get a slot on the first two days itself, and even though the system can act as a hindrance whenever we try to confirm slots, I finally managed to get my shot on Tuesday,” said 25-year old Akriti Pandya, who has a slot for pursuing MBA at an Australian university. The Maharashtra government’s directive to give the second dose of vaccine within 6 weeks will help Pune-based Siddhant Yelwande, a 22-year-old admitted to the University of Minnesota, US. “My second dose was assigned for August 24 even though I was supposed to reach the university on August 23,” he said.