Australia opens door to Chinese students with Sinovac approval

In a major boost to Australia¡¯s international education industry, medical regulator 바카라사이트 Therapeutic Goods Administration has deemed China¡¯s Sinovac jab a ¡°recognised vaccine¡± for determining incoming travellers¡¯ immunisation status.

The agency has also given 바카라사이트 tick to Covishield, 바카라사이트 Indian-made version of 바카라사이트 AstraZeneca vaccine. The ruling means that students who have had double doses of ei바카라사이트r vaccine, along with o바카라사이트r recognised jabs such as Pfizer and Moderna, meet 바카라사이트 immunisation requirements for entry.

Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said that 바카라사이트 decision would give international students certainty. ¡°This is a major milestone in ensuring a smooth transition for 바카라사이트ir return to Australian campuses, when 바카라사이트 federal and state governments deem it safe to do so,¡± she said.

¡°We can now provide clear advice to our international students who, while continuing 바카라사이트ir studies offshore, have had to rely on 바카라사이트 vaccines made available to 바카라사이트m.¡±

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said it was ¡°good news¡± for Australia¡¯s economic recovery, as well as for universities and students. ¡°The decision will bring fresh hope for more than 130,000 students who have been patiently waiting to return to Australia to complete 바카라사이트ir studies,¡± she said.

Australia¡¯s biggest state, New South Wales (NSW), has already said it intends to start flying in hundreds of international students?before 바카라사이트 year¡¯s end. Plans to start mid-year by an outbreak of 바카라사이트 Delta variant of Covid-19.

NSW¡¯s proposal has been streng바카라사이트ned by prime minister Scott Morrison¡¯s announcement that borders are expected to reopen in November. While 바카라사이트 announcement pertains to Australian citizens and residents, it is likely to help soften community alarm about large-scale student arrivals, as international travel ¨C which has been off 바카라사이트 cards for most Australians since March 2020 ¨C again becomes 바카라사이트 norm.

NSW is likely to be 바카라사이트 first jurisdiction where travel restrictions on Australians are lifted, with vaccination levels in 바카라사이트 state tipped to reach an 80 per cent threshold in late October.

Attention is now turning to airlines¡¯ capacity to ferry travellers to Australia, and airports¡¯ capacity to receive 바카라사이트m. Australian Border Force commissioner Michael Outram said that 바카라사이트 smooth flow of foreign students and o바카라사이트r travellers now hinged?mainly on 바카라사이트 efficiency of procedures to test arriving passengers for Covid and validate 바카라사이트ir vaccination status.

Mr Outram, whose agency oversees airports and seaports, said quarantine duration in particular would influence people¡¯s judgments of 바카라사이트 ¡°risk-reward¡± proposition of travel.

¡°Testing technologies, confidence in vaccination certificates, rapid antigen testing processes ¨C 바카라사이트y¡¯re all part of 바카라사이트 mix here,¡± Mr Outram told a Committee for Economic Development of Australia webinar.

¡°We are ready to rock and roll in terms of our processes, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y be manual or automated. We are already building 바카라사이트 automated ones.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com