The States/UTs have been advised to widely publicise and take all necessary measures to immediately implement these SOPs.

The Union Health Ministry has recently issued SOPs to States/UTs to facilitate vaccination of people who have only taken first dose of Covishield, and are undertaking international travel for education purposes, employment opportunities or as part of India’s contingent for Tokyo Olympic Games. 

CoWIN certificates are to be linked to passport of such travellers, the Centre said in a statement released on Monday. The planned travel dates should fall prior to completion of the currently mandated minimum interval of 84 days from the date of first dose.

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

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 second dose at 12-16 weeks interval (i.e. after 84 days), after administration of 1st dose.

Competent Authority 

States/UT governments shall designate a competent authority in each district for according permission for such administration of second dose of Covishield to the people who fit into the these categories- Students who have to undertake foreign travel for the purposes of education, Persons who have to take up jobs in foreign countries and Athletes, Sportspersons and accompanying staff of Indian contingent attending International Olympic Games be held in Tokyo.

The competent authority also has to check certain parameters before according permission for administration of second dose before the period of 84 days after date of first dose. These include :

• Whether a period of 28 days has elapsed after the date of first dose
  
  
• Genuineness of the purpose of travel
  
  
• 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.)
  
  
• 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.