Travelers going abroad for educational purposes, job opportunities, or those who are part of India’s contingent to the Tokyo Olympics will have to get their CoWin certificates linked to their passports as proof of vaccination.
On Monday, the center announced that the gap between the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine has been set to four weeks for those who will be undertaking international travel for the proposes specified above.
This announcement comes following several requests made to the Union health Ministry by individuals seeking to undertake international travel for educational purposes, job opportunities, or those who are part of India’s contingent to Tokyo Olympics.
Facilities will be made available to persons who need to undertake international travel for these specified purposes right up to 31st August 2021. All technical protocols concerning COVID Vaccination Centres and AEFI management etc. must be followed as per the Guidelines of the Ministry.
A month ago, the government had decided that the gap between the two jabs of the Covishield vaccine be increased to 12-16 weeks. This affected the travel plans of those whose intended departure date was scheduled before the mandated minimum interval. They had requested that the second dose’s minimal gap of 84 days from the first dose be reduced.
The union health ministry said a special dispensation for the administration of the second dose of Covishield will be available to the following beneficiaries, to provide full coverage of vaccination and facilitate international travel for such genuine reasons.
1. Students who have to undertake foreign travel for education.
2. Those who have to take up jobs in other countries.
3. Athletes, sportspersons and accompanying staff of Indian contingent attending the International Olympic Games held in Tokyo.
The Indian States and Union Territories will elect a representative in each region, who will accord such permissions. The officials will grant permission based on whether 28 days have passed since the individual has received the first dose, and also the genuineness of the purpose of travel.
It is also recommended by the government that persons who go through this process, use their passport as the permissible ID document while registering for the second dose. For those who did not use their passports as an ID during the first dose, the details of their photo ID card for vaccination will be printed on the certificate.
“Wherever necessary, the competent authority may issue another certificate linking the vaccination certificate with the passport number of the beneficiary,” stated the ministry.
