Date: 2021-06-22Category: DGS CircularState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Addendum III to DGS Circular No 9 of 2021 Coronavirus (COVID 19) - arrangement for vaccination of second dose of Covishield after 28 days to the Seafarers
**Executive Summary**
This document is DGS Circular No. 20 of 2021, dated June 21, 2021. It outlines the arrangement for the vaccination of the second dose of Covishield for seafarers after 28 days. It clarifies that seafarers are eligible for a reduced time interval between doses. Shipping Companies/RPS Agencies have an action item of verifying details for seafarers through an online DGS portal. This circular has been issued with the approval of the Director General of Shipping & Additional Secretary to the Govt. of India and Chairpersons of respective Port Trust.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Eligibility for Reduced Interval Covishield Vaccination**
* Seafarers who have to board a vessel are eligible for the second dose of Covishield vaccine after 28 days but before 84 days.
* This aligns with SOPs issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) for individuals traveling internationally for education, employment, or to represent India at the Tokyo Olympics.
* **Online System for Certification**
* A new utility on the DGS website is available.
* It captures the first dose vaccination details, probable date of travel, and place of boarding.
* Recommendations for granting the second dose after 28 days are issued online.
* **Responsibilities of Shipping Companies/RPS Agencies**
* Required to mention the details of the first dose, probable travel date, and place of boarding on the online application.
* Must verify the date of the first dose when submitting the online request.
* **Procedure Following Certificate Download**
* Seafarers must follow the SOPs prescribed by MoHFW after downloading the "Sign On Certificate for vaccination request" for the second dose.
* **Nodal Officer Details**
* Changes in Nodal Officers are provided in Annexure-III.
* **Validity**
* This reduced-interval vaccination facility is available for those traveling internationally for specified purposes until August 31, 2021.
* **Clarifications on Covishield and Covaxin**
* The SoPs are specifically for Covishield only.
* Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute of India, is WHO-approved.
* No special dispensation needed for the 2nd dose of COVAXIN, as the interval remained 4-6 weeks.
* Complete vaccination with COVAXIN is also sufficient for foreign travel
* **Attachments**
* Annexure-I: SOPs on Administration of Second Dose of Covishield Vaccine.
* Annexure-II: Modification in the application form.
* Annexure-III: Details of Covid Vaccination Centers at Ports and Private Covid Vaccination Centers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Seafarers**
* **Impact**
* Benefit from a reduced interval (28 days but before 84 days) for their second Covishield dose, facilitating timely international travel for employment.
* Need to adhere to MoFHW's SOPs.
* **Action Required**
* After downloading the "Sign On Certificate for vaccination request" for second dose, the Seafarers have to follow the SoPs prescribed by MoFHW.
**Shipping Companies / RPS Agencies**
* **Impact**
* Bear the responsibility of providing accurate information about seafarers' vaccination and travel plans.
* Need to utilize and engage with the new online system on the DGS website.
* **Action Required**
* Mention the details of the first dose, probable date of travel, and place of boarding on the online application.
* Verify the date of first dose administration.
**Port Authorities**
* **Impact**
* COVID vaccination at ports and private vaccination centers.
* **Action Required**
* Ensure that seafarers are able to avail the benefit of reduced time interval for administration of second dose of Covishield vaccine, prior to their boarding a vessel.
* COVID vaccination at ports and private vaccination centers.
Key Entities Referenced
DGS Circular No. 9 of 2021: Referenced circular regarding the vaccination of Seafarers at Indian ports
Covishield vaccine: Vaccine for which this circular provides arrangement for second dose vaccination after 28 days to seafarers
Directorate General of Shipping (DGS): The issuing authority and regulator for shipping in India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW): Ministry that issued the SOPs referenced for the administration of the second dose of Covishield vaccine
Seafarers: The target beneficiaries of this circular, who are eligible for earlier vaccination
I
r'"lll]'",
io*'f 6r'4".4 i -.
:
;
*,tili?'"
.* qr( (f6RI GOVERNMENT OF lNolA
{flw
=';n .Y *- -g-< qtr{, qH qRftq o?R frdqri
"<^{tm.Wm$l-"
MINI iS rTR dY 6OF
{
P O qRT iS l,
f
S fH iI qPP TING
r
tA r}ID
q
W
,
A fIER fW iAYS
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
File No: 23-CIR/2/2021-COASTAL - DGS Dated:21.06.2021
DGS Circular No.20 of 2021
lar No.9 of 2021::
dose
l. The Directorate General of Shipping has issued Circular No. 9 of 2021, Circular No. l0
of 2021 and circular No. 1 5 0f 2021 on vaccination of Seafarers at Indian ports and other
vaccination centers approved by the Covernment.
Z. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India issued a
clarification dated 07.0 6,2021 providing the SOPs on Administration of Second Dose of
Covishield Vaccine prior to prescribed Time Interval (after 28 days but before 84 days) to
persons intending to undertake international travel for education purpose, for joining
employment in foreign countries and for India's contingent to Tokyo Olympics' The SoP is
attached herewith for the ready reference at Annexure-I'
3. Accordingly, the seafarers who have to board a vessel are also eligible for second dose of
Covishield vaccine prior to prescribed time interval. Requests have been received to create an
online system to certify that seafarers are eligible to avail the benefit of reduced time interval for
administration of second dose of Covishield vaccine, prior to their boarding a vessel'
Accordingly, a new utility of DGS website has been created wherein the first dose of the
Covishield vaccination, probable date of travel, place of boarding are captured and
recommendation to show that the second dose of Covishield vaccine after 28 days is granted
online.
4. Shipping Company/ RPS Agency are requested to mention the details of first dose of
Covishield vaccination, probable date of travel, and place of boarding in the places provided in r{
the online application of the DG Shipping. The Shipping company/ RPS Agency shall verify the o 0(!) 0
o.
gth Floot BETA Building, l-Think Techno campus, Kanlur Vittage Road, Kanjurmarg (E), Mumbai4loMz
Srcrret No.: +91-22-2o ruio^o,,,,ii tmrr"r., *s,t--z2-zsts2o2stss {-termait: dsship{gs@nic.in aq{r{aMebsite: www'dsshipping'9ov'indate of administration of first dose while submitting the request online. The details to be
submitted on the online application are mentioned in the Annexure-II.
5. After downloading the "Sign On Certificate for vaccination request" for second dose, the
Seafarers have to follow the SoPs prescribed by MoFHW'
6. Further, the details accommodating few changes in the Nodal Officers as mentioned in
the annexure to the Circular No. l5 of 2O2l is attached with this circular at Annexure-Ill.
j. This issues with approval of Director Ceneral of Shipping & Additional Secretary to the .
Govt. of lndia and Chairpersons of respective Port l-rust.
K
Deputy Director General of Shipping
Encl:
l. Annexure-I - The SOPs on Administration of Second Dose of Covishield Vaccine Prior
to Prescribed Time Interval (after 28 days but before 84 days) to persons intending to
undertake international travel for education purpose, for joining employment in foreign
countries and for India's contingent to Tokyo Olympics.
2. Annexure-Il - The Modification in the application form and 'Sign On Certitlcate for
vaccination request' for the second dose of vaccination'
3. Annexure-Ill- The details of Covid Vaccination Centers at Ports and the Private Covid
Vaccination Centres.
N
q)
o!3
egaP
Annexure-I
SOPs on Administration of Second Dose of Covishield Vaccine Prior to Prescribed Time
Interval(after 28 days but before 84 days) to persons intending to undertake international
travel for education purpose, for joining employment in foreign countries and for India’s
contingent to Tokyo Olympics.
1. Presently, based on the recommendations by National Expert Group on Vaccine
Administration for COVID-19 (NÉGVAC), the schedule of Covishield vaccine under National
Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy is to administer the 2nd dose at 12-16 weeks interval (i.e. after 84
days),after administration of 1st dose.
2. The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has received several representations for
allowing administration of second 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 oppurtunities or for part of 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.
3. The matter has been discussed in Empowered Group 5 (EG-5) and appropriate
recommendations have been received. In this context, with a view to provide full coverage of
vaccination and facilitating international travel for such genuine reasons, following procedure
shall be followed for administration of second dose of Covishield vaccine for such beneficiaries
–
a. This special dispensation will be available to –
(i) Students who have to undertake foreign travel for the purposes of
education.
(ii) Persons who have to take up jobs in foreign countries.
(iii) Athletes, Sportspersons and accompanying staff of Indian contingent
attending
International Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo.
b. States/UT governments shall designate a competent authority in each District for
according permission for such administration of second dose of Covishield.
c. The competent authority shall check the following before according a permission
for administration of second dose before the period of 84 days after the date of first dose
–
Whether a period of 28 days has elapsed after the date of first dose.
(ii)Genuineness of the purpose of travel based on documents related to –4
egaP
1. Admission offers or associated formal communications for the purpose of
education.
2. Whether a person is already studying in a foreign educational institution and
has to return to that institution for contnuing his/her education.
3. Interview calls for a job or offer letters for taking up employment
4. Nomination to participate in the Tokyo Olympic games.
d. It is advised that vaccination may be availed in such cases through Passport which
is one of the permissible ID documents as per the current guidelines, so that the passport
number is printed in the vaccination certificate. However, if Passport was not used at the
time of administration of first dose, the details of the photo ID Card used for vaccination
will be printed in the vaccination certificate and mention of the Passport in the
vaccination certificate is not to be insisted upon. Wherever necessary, the competent
authority may issue another certificate linking the vaccination certificate with the
passport number of the beneficiary.
e. This facility shall be available to those who need to undertake international travel
for these specified purposes in the period up to31st August, 2021.
f. All technical protocols as prescribed in the Guidelines of the Ministry regarding
COVID Vaccination Centres and AEFI management etc. shall have to be followed.
4. It is clarified that Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute of India and approved by
the DCGI, is one of the vaccines recognised by the WHO for emergency use as on
3rdJune2021.The relevant entry is at S.No.4of the WHO EUL, available at
https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/sites/default/files/documents/Status%20of%20COVID-
19%20Vaccines%20within%20WHO%20EUL-PQ%20evaluation%20process%20-
%203%20June%202021.pdf. Mention of vaccine type as “Covishield” is sufficient and no other
qualifying entries are required in the vaccination certificates.
5. The Co-WIN system will soon provide the facility for administration of 2nd dose in such
exceptional cases.
6. This is to clarify that these SoPs have been issued specifically only for Covishield
because only the time interval between the 2 doses of Covishield has been increased from 6-8
weeks to 12-16 weeks. The period for COVAXIN has remained the same i.e. 4-6 weeks and
hence there was no need for any special dispensation for 2nd dose of COVAXIN. It is also
clarified that complete vaccination with COVAXIN is also sufficient for foreign travelAnnexure II
MMooddiiffiiccaattiioonnss iinn the Vaccination Module
1. LLooggiinn ttoo eeGGoovveerrnnaannccee ppoorrttaall ooff DDGGSS aanndd cclliicckk oonn ‘‘’’SSiiggnn oonn cceerrttiiffiiccaattiioonn ffoorr
vvaacccciinnaattiioonn ddeeddiiccaatteedd hhoossppiittaallss’’’’
2. CClliicckk oonn ‘‘’’SSuubbmmiitt AApppplliiccaattiioonn’’’’
5
egaP
Annexure II
odule
Login to eGovernance portal of DGS and click on ‘’Sign on certification for3. EEnntteerr tthhee IINNDDooSS && CClliicckk oonn ‘‘’’CCoonnttiinnuuee’’’’
4. TThhee aapppplliiccaattiioonn wwiillll nnooww aasskk ffoorr ‘‘’’VVaacccciination Request for ‘’ First Dose or
SSeeccoonndd DDoossee.. IIff tthhee uusseerr sseelleeccttss ffiirrsstt ddoossee nnoo cchhaannggeess iinn tthhee aapppplliiccaattiioonn..
6
egaP
nation Request for ‘’ First Dose or
Second Dose. If the user selects first dose no changes in the application.5. CClliicckk ttoo ‘‘OOKK’’ ttoo ssuubbmmiitt tthhee rreeqquueesstt ffoorr FFiirrsstt DDoossee.. AAnn aapppplliiccaattiioonn nnuummbbeerr
will be generated.
6. HHoowweevveerr iiff tthhee uusseerr sseelleeccttss ffoorr sseeccoonndd ddoossee the application will prompt for
aaddddiittiioonnaall ffiieellddss aass sshhoowwnn iinn tthhee ssccrreeeenn bbeellooww;
7
egaP
Click to ‘OK’ to submit the request for First Dose. An application number
the application will prompt for7. FFiillll iinn tthhee ddeettaaiillss aanndd cclliicckk oonn ‘‘OOKK’’ ttoo ssuubbmmiitt tthhee rreeqquueesstt.. AAnn aapppplliiccaattiioonn
nnuummbbeerr wwiillll bbee ggeenneerraatteedd..
8. SSaammppllee vvaacccciinnaattiioonn cceerrttiiffiiccaattee aafftteerr aapppprroovvaall ooff aapppplliiccaattiioonn
8
egaP
Fill in the details and click on ‘OK’ to submit the request. An application9
egaP
Annexure-III
A. Details of Covid Vaccination Centers for seafarers at Ports
S. Name of Ports Address/location of Name and Mobile No.
No. Vaccination Centre Designation of
Nodal Officer
1. V. O. VOC Port Trust Hospital, Dr. K. Baby Rani, 9486983617
Chidambaranar Harbour Estate, Tuticorin Senior Medical
Port Trust Officer
2. Chennai Port Chennai Port Trust Hospital, Dr. N. Padma, 9884092769
Trust Spring Heaven Road, Chennai- Chief Medical
600-001 Officer
3. Syama Prasad Centenary Hospital, 1, Diamond Dr. Nabarun 9830247076
Mookejee Port, Harbor Road, New Alipore, Bhowmick, Dy.
Kolkata Kolkata 700053 CMO
4. Deendayal Port Deendayal Port Trust, Gopalpuri Dr. Anil J. 9825505796
Trust Chellani, Sr. Dy.
Chief Medical
Officer
5. Paradip Port Paradip Port Trust Hospital Dr. Shelly Priya, 9178991935
Trust AT / PO - Paradip Port Dist – Sr. MO
Jagatsinghpur Odisha – 754
142
6. Jawaharlal Nehru Jawaharlal Nehru Port Hospital Dr. Sanjay Rathore 9819178965
Port Trust ,Sector 2 , JNPT Township, Uran (Dy. CMO)
,Navi Mumbai -400707
7. Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam Port Trust Dr. Ravi Sharma 9441339754
Port Trust Hospital, AT/PO-
Salagramapuram, Dist-
Visakhapatnam Andhra
Pradesh – 530 024
8. Mormugao Port HRD Center, Near Dr. Manju 8411099773
Trust Administrative Building, Khandeparker,
Mormugao Port Trust, Dy. CMO (Gen)
Headland, Sada
9. Cochin Port Trust Cochin Port Trust Hospital, Dr.Giji P. 9447832628
Willingdon Island, Cochin Thekkath, Sr.
Medical Officer
10. Mumbai Port MbPT Hospital Nadkarni Park, Dr. V.V.G. Purohit 9820362670
Trust Wadala Sr. Dy. Chief
Medical Officer
(Admn.)
11. New Manglore New Manglore Port Trust Dr. G.B.Raghavendra 8722095950
Port Trust and Swamy, Senior
DGS Medical officer01
egaP
B. Details of Private Covid Vaccination Centre for seafarers
S. Name of Private Covid Address/location of Name and Designation Mobile No.
No. Vaccination Centre Vaccination of Nodal Officer
Centre
1. DLABS DIAGNOSTICS Teepeyem Plus Dr. Ushas Kumar G, 9895209326
CENTRE Building , Ground Director,
Floor DLABS DIAGNOSTICS
Kalathiparambu CENTRE
Road, Ernakulam -
682016