The government on Thursday asked all academics returning from Ukraine to get any of the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine if they are already fully vaccinated. Thousands of Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion have been returned to India in evacuation flights organized through the government as a component of ‘Operation Ganga’.
“We need to ensure, through you (the media), that all returning academics (from Ukraine) are fully vaccinated or vaccinated,” Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Balram Bhargava told a news conference.
Health Secretary Lav Agarwal said the Ministry of Health was in normal contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) regarding the number of flights and other people from Ukraine, as well as their physical condition. “We have normal conversations with the MEA. International travel rules for students or anyone coming from Ukraine to India have also been relaxed so that they can arrive on time. We’re following up with MEA to find out how many flights and other people have also come in to get their fitness update. ,” he said.
Asked how the evacuated doctors will complete their studies, Agarwal said: “We all want to understand that times are difficult and we will act according to the needs and norms of the situation. We want to see what happens to the other people who are “Coming back from Ukraine. “
With PTI inputs