Vaccine approvals will boost our overseas student numbers

Australian approval of an Indian and a Chinese vaccine will help revive the higher education sector’s international market.

TGA approval of the Sinovac and Covishield vaccines removes another barrier to international students returning to Australia in large numbers. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images.

Australia’s official recognition of the effectiveness of the Sinovac and Covishield vaccines has removed an obstacle preventing many international students from returning to Australia.

A new survey has revealed that among 3149 overseas students 41 per cent of those considering studying abroad had received one of the two vaccines, which were given recognition by the Therapeutic Goods Administration last Friday.

The survey, conducted this month by international student placement agency AECC Global, revealed 26.5 per cent of respond­ents had received Covishield, the Indian version of AstraZeneca, and 14.5 per cent had received the Chinese-produced Sinovac, also known as Coronavac. The survey did not include Chinese students, many of whom would have received Sinovac also.

Sinovac and Covishield join the British version of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna as recognised vaccines for incoming travellers to Australia. The TGA still is assessing data for two other Chinese vaccines – SinoPharm and CanSino – as well as for Russia’s Sputnik V and India’s ­Covaxin.

Half of the students surveyed had received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, 20 per cent had received one dose and were awaiting their second, and 24 per cent were planning to be vaccinated soon.

A small proportion had no plans to be vaccinated soon.

The study found 52 per cent of the students had delayed or would delay overseas studies because of the pandemic and only 20 per cent felt positive about studying with an institution outside their country even if they were not able to travel there.

AECC Global chief commercial officer Jake Foster said TGA approval of Sinovac and Covishield was “critically important for the recovery of the Australian international education sector and for our students”.

“This is an extremely positive sign for the Australian economy in 2022,” he said. “International students should be able to return to our shores in meaningful numbers.”