Mumbai: Students headed abroad hunt for Covishield now

Students wait to get vaccinated at a centre in Navi Mumbai. File pics

Students headed abroad by the end of August for higher studies are in a bind, with universities demanding they be vaccinated with Covishield - the only anti-Covid-19 shot globally approved by the WHO. With a long gap between two doses and a shortage in supply, they wonder if they will be immunised before flying out. Then there is another lot of worried students who took Covaxin, which doesn't have the WHO nod yet. They now wonder what's next.

Mihir Damle, a Pune resident, travelled to Navi Mumbai to get Covishield as his city didn't have available slots for this vaccine. He is going to the UK in mid-August for higher studies. While he got lucky, some others didn't.

A student receives her first Covid-19 shot at Maasaheb Meenatai Thackeray Hospital, Nerul

"I wasn't really aware of the importance of the brand of vaccines. By chance, my sister came across a news article about Indian cricket team having to take Covishield to go abroad for a game because that's recognised internationally. Had she not, I would have taken any available vaccine," said Damle, who had even thought of going as far as Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, for Covishield.

Also Read: Students need vax concession, clear communication

A recent New York Times article about an Indian student has added to the worries. The student had taken Covaxin but was asked by Columbia University to get revaccinated upon arrival on the campus. Anisha B, who has to head to the US soon, said, "We don't know if this [taking two different vaccines one after another] is safe. Covishield has the longest gap between the two doses. Many of us are scheduled to leave by the end of August."

Sudhanshu Kaushik of North American Association of Indian Students

Naman Agrawal, who plans to study in Canada, tweeted, "I was not aware that Covaxin is not recognised internationally. I have already taken the first dose. This is really frustrating. My plan to study abroad was already delayed by a year due to the pandemic."

Dr. Anant Bhan, a researcher of Bioethics and Global Health, has advised students to not panic and experiment with vaccines due to the confusion. "Whether an individual can take a different vaccine after getting fully vaccinated with another, or if two vaccines can be mixed, and others such aspects are still under research. Trials are underway to find that out. But until and unless data is available out there, it is better not to experiment. Instead, students should keep calm and wait, as most likely Covaxin would acquire the required approval from the WHO in some time. The company must be taking serious steps for it," he said.

Mihir Damle, a Pune resident, travelled all the way to Navi Mumbai for a Covishield shot

Sudhanshu Kaushik, the executive director of the North American Association of Indian Students, puts the blame on the Indian government as well as the respective universities.

"Among the international students in the US, Indians are the second largest population. And yet, policies for students are US-centric," he said, adding that partially the blame is also on Indian government. "When you have such a huge number of outgoing students, why not have the foresight and inform the students that Covaxin is not yet approved internationally." He pointed out that all universities are following the US CDC guidelines, which has approved vaccines cleared by the WHO.

A medic administers a vaccine to a beneficiary at Nair hospital. File pic/Ashish Raje

Siddharth Ingle, president of the Maharashtra Students' Union, also blamed the central government for the confusion. "They should have informed the students going abroad that Covaxin doesn't have the required approval. It did not share such important information while opening vaccination for the 18-44 years age group."

Gap is the main worry

Shubhada Chaukar, a parent, however, said the European university her daughter is going for higher studies has time and again told students to refer to the WHO-approved list of vaccines. "The university has been in touch with students. And in some of the webinars, they clarified that we should press for Covishield. But, the main issue now is completing both the doses before she takes her flight to Europe."

Sudhanshu Kaushik, executive director, North American Association of Indian Students

Among politicians trying to resolve the issue is Ashish Shelar from BJP, who has written to the Union health ministry. "While Covaxin's WHO approval is pending, it would be great if the Union health ministry issues detailed guidelines and holds consultations with stakeholders to sensitise airlines and foreign universities in this matter so that Covaxin vaccinated students are not at any disadvantage," he said.

Tweet talk

Naman Agrawal, who plans to study in Canada
‘I was not aware that Covaxin is not recognised internationally. I have already taken the first dose. This is really frustrating. My plan to study abroad was already delayed by a year due to the pandemic'