City Buzz: UK questions Indian vaccine certificates | Vaccines for children from October…and more

by September 26, 2021 Civic
A weekly recap of key updates on COVID-19 vaccination, NEET and CBSE examinations, Covishield approval by UK and other news.

Vaccine for children from October

As per a Reuters report, children aged 12 or older will be eligible for vaccination from October. Zydus Cadila will start producing 10 million doses per month of Zy-CoVD, the world’s first DNA based vaccine, once it gets emergency use authorization from the Indian government last month. Zy-CoVD is the only vaccine India has approved for children.

In another development, the Central Board of Secondary Education has decided to waive fees for children who lost their parents to COVID-19. In an official communication, CBSE has asked schools to prepare a list of such students along with required documents.

Source: The Times of India | Reuters  

Read more: COVID vaccines for children: What experts are saying

UK to discuss vaccine certificates policy with India

Though the United Kingdom recognized the Covishield vaccine being used in India, it informed that discussion is underway on acceptance of Indian vaccine certificates. India is still in the amber list for UK travel while 18 other countries have been put on UK’s green list. India’s foreign minister has been talking to UK officials over the requirement of 10-day quarantine for travellers from India, including those who have been administered Covishield vaccine. The UK government claims the problem is not with the vaccine but with the vaccine certificate. The Indian government has called this statement discriminatory and has called for reciprocal restrictions for travellers from UK if their government does not resolve this issue.

Source: The Hindu

Covishield vaccine has been approved by the UK government. Pic: Wikimedia Commons

NEET: SC scraps Madras High Court direction on EWS reservation

Hearing a plea by the central government, the SC set aside the direction passed by the Madras High Court that said the 10% EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservation in NEET all India quota can be implemented only after approval from the constitution bench of the Supreme Court. Last month, the Madras High Court had upheld the centre’s notification of 27% reservation to OBC but not the 10% EWS reservation. The SC, while setting aside the Madras High Court direction, made clear that it is doing so based not on merit but in response to a contempt petition filed by the ruling DMK over OBC reservation in all India medical seats.

Source: NDTV

Read more: As the world fights a pandemic, IIT-NEET-CLAT aspirants in limbo

Vaccination at home for disabled and those with restricted mobility

The Union Health Ministry has allowed providing vaccination at home for the differently abled and those with restricted mobility. During a press briefing, the ministry informed that though the country is still witnessing a second wave, positivity rate had declined for the 12th consecutive week and is less than 3% while the recovery rate stands at 97.8%. As the festive season is approaching, the government has warned people against mass gatherings. It has also advised creating local containment zones where the positivity rate remains 5% or higher. So far, 66% of the eligible adult population has received at least one vaccine dose.

Source: The Times of India

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Compiled by Rishabh Shrivastava

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