Universities abroad ask students to report vaccination status

Indian students preparing to attend universities abroad for Fall 2021 are recommended to provide their COVID-19 vaccination details in advance by universities. With stricter guidelines prevailing amid the rising COVID-19 cases, international travel and visa make it mandatory for students to be ready with their vaccination details.

These rules are being implemented to reduce the quarantine period post-flying in. This, in turn, would help in speeding up the return process of the students to their respective universities, plus more in-person classes would resume leaving behind the online format.

COVID-19 Vaccination update for students going abroad

Passports of students going abroad for studies to be linked with vaccination proof

Students going abroad for education need to get their CoWIN vaccination certificates linked to their passports. They are also eligible to take the second dose of the vaccine after 28 days. The new rules will be available to those who need to undertake international travel for education or jobs till 31st-Aug-2021. The new rules specified that mention of vaccine-type as ‘Covishield’ is sufficient and no other qualifying entries are required'. 

Maharashtra government allows walk-in vaccination for students going abroad

The government of Maharashtra and Kerala have announced that students who received the confirmation letter from universities abroad and require vaccination for the same can get free vaccination on 31st-May-2021, 1st-June, and 2nd-June-2021 at 3 centers namely Rajawadi, Cooper, and Kasturba. Students need to carry their I-20s or D-160 form or confirmation letter for verification along with their ID.

Maharashtra Guardian Minister Aaditya Thackeray tweeted this information on Friday through his Twitter account. He also said that he will be speaking to other municipal corporations across the state to implement the same for students who received confirmation about their admission from universities abroad.

Apart from Maharashtra, Kerala Health Department has also included students who are going abroad for studies in priority groups for vaccination. They will be given the Covishield vaccine procured by the government. Kerala government has announced that it will issue a COVID vaccination certificate with the passport number of the recipient recorded in it.

US Universities COVID-19 Vaccination Details

In March 2021, US Universities started rolling out guidelines for complete COVID-19 vaccination details for the Fall 2021 session for returning international students. The documentation is supposed to be submitted two weeks prior to a student’s return to the US University (on-campus).

Students who have been unable to get themselves vaccinated are also given a comprehensive guideline suggesting ways to immunize themselves with the use of limited COVID-19 vaccines that are approved by the following authorities:

• The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Presently, there are three COVID-19 vaccines that have authorization by FDA for emergency use, as recommended by the ACIP:
  • mRNA Vaccines: Pfizer / BioNTech & Moderna
  • Viral Vector Vaccine: Janssen by Johnson & Johnson

Some of the top US universities requiring this kind of COVID-19-related documentation along with their proposed dates of deadline are as follows:

Universities like Harvard and Stanford have restricted travelers from India in wake of the current COVID-19 surge (second phase). The classes in these universities are being conducted remotely and hence, travel is permitted for those who are residing in the US only and not foreign students, staff, or researchers. 

The US has released a list of countries varying from low to high COVID-19 risk areas and subsequently suggests students avoid traveling in or out of the US.

Read: Vaccination update for International students looking to take admission in US universities during COVID-19 

Though other countries are relying specifically on their team at the arrival section of the airports, these countries are still allowing students to fly back. Students are further required to complete the required quarantine period and follow up on the testing procedures.

A country-wise checklist is explained below for international students planning to travel to the following countries amid the COVID-19 restrictions with or without vaccination requirements.

United Kingdom

UK Universities are commonly adhering to the rules and regulations as proposed by the UK Government for returning international students. Top universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, etc are bound to follow these imposed rules. International students returning from their country of origin to the UK must make a note of the following:

• Even if the international students are vaccinated, they will have to take either RT-PCR or LFD Test three days prior to their arrival in the UK.
• Students hailing from red-listed countries (as released by the UK Government), will have to follow the requisite quarantine procedures.
• Residency on campus at any UK university is exempted for new international students at present.

Additionally, international students arriving in the UK must complete a pre-departure test and passenger locator form. The cost of testing must be paid beforehand. Thus, even though an international applicant returning to the UK may be vaccinated, he/she will still have to follow the quarantine and testing rules.

*Note: The following vaccines are approved by the UK Government for use:

• Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine
• Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine
• Moderna vaccine

Australia

It is speculated by Australian top officials from the Education Department that Australia would have to wait until 2022 to call back its international students. Due to the increased risk, it is becoming impossible for Australian officials to track if returning international students have taken the correct dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Thus, a large number of international students are being restricted to enter Australia for now. Only a few returning international students are given visas only if they are vaccinated. They also have to quarantine themselves for 14 days after they arrive in Australia.

*Note: A ‘vaccination passport’ is being set up for scrutinizing the COVID-19 vaccinations correctly by Australian officials. Australia is inoculating its citizens using the AstraZeneca Vaccine.

France

A known European Union country has laid certain guidelines for the smooth functioning of the nation as a whole. France has implemented the ‘pass sanitaire’ to curb restrictions and resume normal lifestyle activities. The pass Sanitaire or health pass would be required by both Frenchmen and international students studying in universities in France. This pass would be responsible for recording and centralizing the following details:

• Negative RT-PCR or Antigen Test
• COVID-19 Recovery Certificate
• COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate

These documents can be stored digitally on the official website which is hosted by the French Health Department. This pass would, in turn, act as an official document authorized by the French Government for its people and its visa holders, which could also be used for travel across Europe.

Germany

Unlike other EU countries, German universities have banned international students from traveling from high-risk countries. Yet, those students who are fully vaccinated can apply directly on the official website of Germany, stating full details. Only after an official confirmation to travel back to Germany, an international student can book tickets for flying back.

Since it is mandatory for students to hold health insurance, those international students who are already residing in Germany can avail of free-of-cost vaccination benefits.

*Note: The European Union is relying on the Digital Green Pass which acts as proof for its citizens that they are vaccinated as per COVID-19 regulations. There are various countries that are a part of this European Union and may treat this pass differently or in unison with its proposed laws.

All EU countries may accept it or accept it with slight modifications depending upon the laws they have passed internally for the benefit of their nationals.

There are countries like Sweden, New Zealand, Ireland, and Canada that have completely banned travel for returning international students, while the US is in the process of partially restarting its universities. Moreover, as per WHO, international travel is restricted and thus, students must opt for an option that requires minimum mobility, to avoid catching COVID-19 infections. Vaccinations are still ongoing, hence, restrictions on visa and an elaborate background check are not avoidable.