Early Covishield 2nd dose permitted for Olympic participants, students and job applicants abroad

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 8

Athletes and support staff attending the Tokyo Olympics, students travelling abroad for education and people in offshore jobs can take the second Covishield dose before the mandated 84-day period after the first dose, but after the lapse of 28 days post the first shot.

The government took this decision on Monday after 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.

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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, accompanying staff of Indian contingent attending International Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo.

States will need to designate a competent authority in each district for according permission for such administration of a second dose of Covishield.

The competent authority shall check related documents for the purpose, such as whether a period of 28 days has elapsed after the date of first dose,

Genuineness of the purpose of travel based on documents, among other things.

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

India had recently advanced the second dose of Covishield to 12 to 16 weeks after the first.