Students and other groups of people planning a stay abroad cannot set their schedules due to various vaccination problems
People who have to travel abroad to various international destinations in the coming months are in a catch-22 situation due to vaccination problems.
While the shortage of vaccines was the only concern until recently, other issues such as the extension of the Covishield dosing interval and the further delay in the World Health Organization (WHO) approval of Covaxin that recently unfolded have added to the uncertainty.
Thousands of Andhra Pradesh students travel to the United States for postgraduate education each year, and this year too many are planning to go abroad for admission in September. However, many universities in the United States have now mandated that students be vaccinated with World Health Organization approved manufacturers.
Some colleges and universities ask students who have chosen to stay on their respective campuses to get vaccinated before the start of the 2021-22 academic year.
liberation
Although the central government has opened vaccination for the age group 18+, the state government has postponed it because the doses are limited and currently only people over 45 years of age are vaccinated. However, for the convenience of students with overseas travel plans and NRIs, the state government has decided to vaccinate them regardless of age so that their plans are not compromised.
“The only option we have is to take Covishield now. We cannot risk taking Covaxin as WHO approval could be delayed beyond September. Even if I take Covishield now, the next dose cannot be taken until a week before September. If everything goes according to plan, there can be no problem, otherwise I have to go to January entry, ”says C. Swetha, who is aiming to study abroad.
According to reports, some people with overseas travel plans were already taking Covaxin through private hospitals outside the state when the center opened vaccination for the 18+ age group. In such cases, they have to wait for the vaccine to be approved by the WHO or choose an institution that does not require vaccination.
On the other hand, people planning to visit their family abroad and students who have returned to the state due to a parent’s medical emergency are also facing problems.
“I waited weeks to take Covaxin even though I had the opportunity to get Covishield. According to the latest developments, I’ve found that the best thing to do is to take Covishield. In that case, I can be sure to travel to my son in Saudi Arabia after 12 weeks, if the country allows, ”says S. Nagamani, a forced school teacher of her plan to travel to Saudi Arabia for a year move.
Other problems
“Me and my brother rushed into town after one of my parents fell ill with COVID-19 and was hospitalized. Now that he’s recovered, we plan to return to the UK. Although the vaccination is not compulsory on return, we have to be quarantined for at least 10 days and it costs a couple of lakhs, ”says Sk. Fazal from the city.
To date, of the 1.07 crore doses administered in the state, only 18% (19.25 lakh) were Covaxin and the remainder Covishield.
The state government is likely to dispense nearly 50 lakh cans in June, as the central government alone promised to deliver around 35 lakh cans.