On Wednesday, the Kerala High Court issued notice on a petition demanding the supply of the third dosage of an internationally recognized vaccination to NRIs. They had already got two doses of Covaxin, which is not internationally recognized for overseas travel. On behalf of the petitioner, Manas P Hameed appeared.
The petitioner is a Saudi Arabia-based Non-Resident Indian. Due to the second pandemic wave in Saudi Arabia, he returned to India in January 2021. He was given two doses of Covaxin, a vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech International Ltd, during his stay in India.
However, while giving the vaccination, the petitioner discovered that the Saudi government did not recognize Covaxin. He claimed that the Kingdom only approves Covishield, which is the equivalent of AstraZeneca.
As a result, the petitioner will now be regarded as a non-vaccinated individual in Saudi Arabia and would not be allowed to enter India.