Vaccine Shortage In Telangana Threatens To Derail Students' Dreams Of Studying Abroad

Despite getting good GRE and IELTS scores and securing admission in universities abroad, city students are unsure whether they will be able to travel overseas and join their peers on campus when the fall semester commences in August.

- Pathi Thadhagath

The second wave of COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of students aspiring to study abroad in a state of disarray. Despite getting good GRE and IELTS scores and securing admission in universities abroad, city students are unsure whether they will be able to travel overseas and join their peers on campus when the fall semester commences in August. Several universities in the US and Canada have made it mandatory for students to be fully inoculated before being allowed on campus. On Tuesday, Telangana government instructed private hospitals to administer COVID vaccine for 18+ people. However, with just two months to go for the fall semester, city students’ dream of studying abroad hangs in the balance as it all depends on whether they will be able to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as mandated.

Abhilash TM, a city-based IT professional who has secured admission for a master’s programme in Northern Arizona University, says, “The university has made it clear that international students will not be allowed on campus without being fully vaccinated. This leaves me in a very tricky situation since Telangana has not yet started vaccination for the 18-45 age group. With government officials stating that vaccines may not be available till July, it will be practically impossible for me to take two vaccine doses and reach the US in time for the start of my course.”