People who are seeking to travel abroad for education, employment or as a part of the Indian contingent to the Tokyo Olympics will be allowed to take the second dose of Covishield before the mandated minimum interval of 84 days from the date of first dose.

TThe Union health ministry said on Monday that people who are seeking to travel abroad for education, employment or as a part of the Indian contingent to the Tokyo Olympics will be required to get their CoWin certificates linked to their passports. The facility is available till August 31 this year

These categories will also be allowed to take the second dose of Covishield before the mandated minimum interval of 84 days from the date of first dose. However, the second dose will only be given 28 days after taking the first dose. CoWin will soon provide the facility of administering the second dose in such cases.

“With the receipt of several representations for allowing administration of dose of Covishield for such persons who have only taken first dose of Covishield and are seeking to undertake international travel for educational purposes or employment opportunities or for participation in India’s Contingent for Tokyo Olympic games, but whose planned travel dates fall prior to completion of the currently mandated minimum interval of 84 days from the date of first dose, the issue was discussed in Empowered Group 5 (EG-5) and appropriate recommendations have been received in this context,” the ministry said in a press release.