Centre Issues SOPs for Vaccination of Persons undertaking International Travel for Educational Purposes

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued SOPs for vaccination of persons undertaking international travel for educational purposes, or employment opportunities, or as part of India’s contingent for Tokyo Olympic games.

The SOPs are as follows:

At present, based on the recommendations by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), the schedule of Covishield vaccine under National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy is to administer the 2nd dose at 12-16 weeks interval (i.e. after 84 days), after administration of 1st dose.

With the receipt of several representations for allowing administration of dose of Covishield for such persons who have only taken first dose of Covishield and are seeking to undertake international travel for educational purposes or employment opportunities or for participation in India’s Contingent for Tokyo Olympic games, but whose planned travel dates fall prior to completion of the currently mandated minimum interval of 84 days from the date of first dose, the issue was discussed in Empowered Group 5 (EG-5) and appropriate recommendations have been received in this context.

With a view to providing full coverage of vaccination and facilitating international travel for such genuine reasons, the following procedure shall be followed for administration of second dose of Covishield vaccine for such beneficiaries.

This special dispensation will be available to —

a. Students who have to undertake foreign travel for the purposes of education.

b. Persons who have to take up jobs in foreign countries

c. Athletes, Sportspersons and accompanying staff of Indian contingent attending International Olympic Games be held in Tokyo
States/UT governments shall designate a competent authority in each district for according permission for such administration of second dose of Covishield.

The competent authority shall check the following before according a permission for administration of second dose before the period of 84 days after date of first dose —
1.

a. Whether a period of 28 days has elapsed after the date of first dose.

b. Genuineness of the purpose of travel based on documents related to —
i. Admission Offers or associated formal communications for the of education.
ii. Whether a person is already studying a foreign educational institution and has to return to that institution for continuing their education.
iii. Interview calls for a job or offer letters for taking up employment.
iv. Nomination to participate in the Tokyo Olympic games.

c. It is advised that vaccination may be availed in cases through Passport which is one of the permissible ID documents as per the current guidelines so that the passport number is printed in the Certificate. If Passport was not used at the time of administration of first dose, the details of the photo ID Card used for vaccination will printed in the vaccination certificate and mention of the Passport in the vaccination certificate is not to be insisted upon. Wherever necessary, the competent authority may issue another certificate linking the vaccination certificate with the passport number of the beneficiary.

d. This facility shall be available to those who need to undertake international travel for these specified purposes in the period up to 31st August, 2021.

e. All technical protocols as prescribed in the Guidelines of the Ministry regarding COVID Vaccination Centres and AEFI management etc. shall have be followed.