Covid: US universities ask Indian students to re-vaccinate with 'approved' jabs

Photo: Reuters

Delhi - Those who received the Covaxin or Sputnik V vaccines have been asked to take a different one before the Autumn semester.

By Web report

Published: Mon 7 Jun 2021, 12:37 PM

Last updated: Mon 7 Jun 2021, 12:44 PM

Many US universities are reportedly asking Indian students who have received the Covaxin or Sputnik V vaccines to take a World Health Organisation-approved vaccine as well.

According to The New York Times, neither of the vaccines, which have been administered to many Indians, are WHO-approved. This leaves US-bound Indian students in a bind, as they now must re-vaccinate themselves before the beginning of the Autumn semester in September.

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Among worries about how the new guideline will affect already tough application processes, there is also concern about mixing two different vaccines.

"Since Covid-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, the safety and effectiveness of receiving two different Covid-19 vaccines have not been studied," said Kristen Nordlund, spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said.

According to Nordlund, those who have received a vaccine that is unapproved by WHO must wait at least 28 days before receiving an approved one.

Notably, vaccines produced by US-based pharma companies, including Pfizer Inc, Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson, have already received approval from the WHO.

India sends about 200,000 students to the US every year.