Jab vs job dilemma for NRIs awaiting 2nd dose

Jab vs job dilemma for NRIs awaiting 2nd dose

Kevin.Mendonsa@timesgroup.com

Mangaluru:27.05.2021

TOI Bangalore Edition 

Many NRIs who came home for vacations and took the first dose of vaccine against Covid-19 are now in a tight spot due to the non-availability of the second dose. This is more so with those who took Covishield as the government has extended the gap between two doses of the vaccine to 12-16 weeks, up from the previous maximum limit of eight weeks.

A 32-year-old working in the hospitality industry had taken his first dose of Covaxin in the third week of March and his second dose was originally due in May. Since he was asked to report back to the US in the second week of May, he wanted to get the second dose before leaving the country. But that was not to be.

After facing hurdles in Mangaluru, he tried to get the vaccine in Chennai where he was due for a check-up and some small procedures, but failed. Ultimately, to avoid hassles, he said, he declared that he was not vaccinated and on landing in the US and took the first dose of Pfizer vaccine at the airport there.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, the work destination of many locals, allows only those vaccinated to return.

‘Govt must make vaccine arrangements for NRIs’

Mushtaq Ahmed, who has been working there for 28 years and is curently on a break in Mangaluru, said vaccination certificates carrying the Aadhaar number in place of the passport number is not being accepted as a valid document due to rule revisions in many countries. So, many NRIs who got the first dose furnishing their Aadhaar number will have to update their certificates with the passport number to ensure international acceptance. “I was running to PHCs in the city to get the first dose of Covishield but the problem was that my vax certificate was not attached to my passport. Finally, I found a private hospital that attaches certificates to passports. I will take a second dose of AstraZeneca in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Former mayor K Ashraf urged the government to make separate arrangements for NRIs and those who have to travel abroad. Kerala has already included students and employees who need to go abroad as priority groups for vaccination. District nodal officer for vaccines in Dakshina Kannada Dr BV Rajesh said there is no provision yet from the government to arrange for vaccination of NRIs travelling abroad separately on priority basis.