New Delhi: The United States has stated that vaccination is not a "mandatory requirement" for Indian students travelling to the country, according to a senior Ministry of External Affairs official on Thursday.
In response to a question, Arindam Bagchi, the official spokesperson, stated that a “constructive solution” should be found to assist Indian students returning to attend academic sessions there. The US Embassy had just started processing visas for on-campus education.
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He said: “There is no uniformity in the requirements. The U.S. government has clarified that vaccination is not a mandatory requirement for our students to travel. I also understand that there are multiple conversations going on between our students and the universities”.
The comments highlighted the conflict between the US government and some of the country's most prestigious academic institutions, which require students to be vaccinated before returning to campus.
Individuals who are not fully vaccinated will be subject to self-quarantine for a week, according to a State Department spokesperson on Thursday.
The spokesperson said, “We remind travellers beginning January 26, all air passengers two years of age or older arriving in the United States must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding. This order applies to both foreign nationals and U.S. citizens. After arrival, a follow-up test is needed within five days.”
The lack of uniformity in US requirements stems from the fact that many leading universities and the government have yet to reach an agreement on the subject.
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