REDUCE GAP BETWEEN 2 SHOTS, URGE STUDENTS GOING ABROAD

MUMBAI: For Shivangi Desai, 28, her master’s course in science and business analytics starts in less than two weeks in a private university in the United States. However, Desai who is up for her first shot of the vaccine on June 5, will have to wait another three months to get the second dose.

“The Indian government recently decided to increase the gap between two shots of Covishield vaccine by 84 days. This means I won’t get my second shot until September, while my class begins on June 18,” said Desai, a resident of Ghatkopar.

Students are worried that three-month wait will eventually mean they miss first half of their semester. “If I get my second dose by July, I’ll still get to travel to my university and manage to make up for the loss,” she said.

State cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray had announced a special vaccination drive for students who have secured admissions in the universities abroad, on a priority. However, since at present, Covishield is the only vaccine recognised internationally, many are worried about not being able to make it for the start of the new academic year in international universities before September. “We are requesting the state government to allow us students to take the second shot earlier, so we don’t miss out on our education,” said Anuja Patil, who has confirmed her admissions at the RMIT University, in Melbourne, Australia. Some students have approached Aaditya Thackeray as well as chief minister Uddhav Thackeray requesting them to help reduce the gap between their vaccine shots.

Students are also worried that delay in physically joining the course might affect their future chances of higher education or work permit. “If I don’t spend a designated period in US for this course, I’ll be termed ineligible to apply for work permit in US, which is a worry,” said another student, adding that her postgraduate course in data analytics begins in August, but without visa and two shots of the vaccine, it’ll be difficult for her to travel.