Graduates flying abroad in fix over vaccine shortage

Graduates flying abroad in fix over vaccine shortage

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.06.2021

Students from Chennai headed overseas for higher studies are in a fix because of the vaccination policy and visa appointments.

While several foreign universities have made vaccination compulsory for all incoming students, states like Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra (Mumbai) have announced that doses will be reserved for these students at vaccine centres. But there is no such policy in Chennai or other parts of Tamil Nadu. Given the vaccine shortage, many students return home without getting jabs even after queuing up for long.

While some have struggled to get the first dose at private hospitals, the long gap between doses has left many fearing whether they would get it before flying abroad.

Vaibhav Singh, co-founder of Leap which offers financial services to Indian students wanting to pursue higher education abroad, said, “Many students who were supposed to start their classes last year deferred it to this year, hoping to be able to attend offline classes. The second wave added more uncertainty to their plans.”

Now that countries like the US are opening up flights for international students, or allowing vaccinated students to attend classes; students will be able to attend classes in-person. Helping them with priority vaccinations will be a great move to allow them to start degrees in the Fall of 2021, he said.

Many others are facing issues with visa appointments. Some foreign consulates in Chennai are closed and are not accepting regular and even expedited appointment (EA) requests.

“I haven’t slept properly for weeks now because of the anxiety surrounding the visa process,” said a student, who got his PhD admission in the spring of 2021, requesting anonymity. He deferred his admission to the Fall because he was unable to get an appointment till November. His programme starts on September  1.

Alekya Kastury, an engineer from Chennai, said further delay in appointments will impact their travel plans. “It is going to be a situation in which we will be entering classes as soon as we land,” she said.

Many students slated to fly abroad have struggled to get their first dose at private hospitals