Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Centre issues SOPs for COVID-19 vaccination of Tokyo Olympic-bound athletes

The union government on Monday (June 7) announced that people going abroad for education, jobs or athletes - who are part of the Indian contingent for Tokyo Olympic - will have to get their CoWIN vaccination certificate.

Centre issues SOPs for COVID-19 vaccination of Tokyo Olympic-bound athletes

New Delhi, June 7: The union government on Monday (June 7) announced that people going abroad for education, jobs or athletes - who are part of the Indian contingent for the Tokyo Olympics - will have to get their 'CoWIN' vaccination certificates linked to their passport.

The Centre has also reduced the gap between the two doses administered to those travelling abroad to four weeks as against the gap of 10-12 weeks, which was the case earlier.

The new rules also maintain that mention of the vaccine-type as "Covishield" is sufficient and "no other qualifying entries are required".

India likely to send 190-strong contingent to Tokyo Olympics, says IOA president Narinder BatraIndia likely to send 190-strong contingent to Tokyo Olympics, says IOA president Narinder Batra

It said it has received several representations for allowing the administration of the second dose of Covishield to such people who have taken the first dose and are seeking to undertake international travel for educational purposes or for employment opportunities or as part of the Indian contingent for the Tokyo Olympic Games, but whose planned travel dates fall prior to the completion of the currently-mandated minimum interval of 84 days from the date of the first dose.

The matter has been discussed in Empowered Group 5 (EG-5) and appropriate recommendations have been received.

Olympic-bound athletes, officials to receive second dose of COVID-19 vaccine after four weeksOlympic-bound athletes, officials to receive second dose of COVID-19 vaccine after four weeks

The Ministry has issued SOPs in this regard which has been conveyed to States/UTs. States/UTs have been advised to widely publicize and take all necessary measures to immediately implement these SOPs.

The SOPs are as follows:

# At present, based on the recommendations by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), the schedule of Covishield vaccine under the 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 a dose of Covishield for such persons who have only taken the 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 Olympics, but whose planned travel dates fall prior to completion of the currently mandated minimum interval of 84 days from the date of the 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 the administration of a second dose of the Covishield vaccine for such beneficiaries.

# This special dispensation will be available to -

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

* Persons who have to take up jobs in foreign countries

* 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 the second dose of Covishield.

# The competent authority shall check the following before according permission for the administration of the second dose before the period of 84 days after the date of the first dose -

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

* Genuineness of the purpose of travel based on documents related to -

* Admission Offers or associated formal communications for the of education.

* Whether a person is already studying a foreign educational institution and has to return to that institution for continuing their education.

# Interview calls for a job or offer letters for taking up employment.

# Nomination to participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

# 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 the first dose, the details of the photo ID Card used for vaccination will be 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.

# 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.

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

# It is clarified that Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute of India and approved by the DCGI is one of the vaccines by the WHO for use as on 3rd June 2021. The relevant entry is at serial number 4 of the WHO EUL is available at: https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/sites/default/files/documents/Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL-PQ evaluation process - 3 June 2021.pdf

# Mention of vaccine-type as "Covishield" is sufficient and no other qualifying entries are required in the vaccination certificates.

The CoWIN system will soon provide the facility for the administration of 2nd dose in such exceptional cases.

Story first published: Monday, June 7, 2021, 23:07 [IST]
Other articles published on Jun 7, 2021