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MANGALURU: As many as 402 professionals working abroad, foreign job aspirants and students going abroad for studies were vaccinated during an exclusive drive conducted by the Dakshina Kannada district administration in association with the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) on Sunday.

Elaborate arrangements were in place for beneficiaries at a private school in Dongarakery. A week ago, the district administration and IRCS started circulating a Google sheet to collect details of NRIs and others in need of vaccination.

Yathish Baikampady, member of the Karnataka state management committee of IRCS, said they received about 1,400 entries. “Of them, we first invited 500 beneficiaries for vaccination in the first phase, and 402 beneficiaries, including 43 frontline workers were vaccinated. The rest of the beneficiaries will get vaccinated in the coming days. Of the 1,400 entries, we have some entries from Udupi and Kasaragod, which will be removed. Most of the beneficiaries are NRIs and students,” Yatish added.

All those who had registered, had to produce valid documents and the reason for travelling abroad.

The beneficiaries appreciated the initiative. Vibhav Prathap Rao,30, who has taken admission in Canada to pursue higher studies in business management, said he had tried to book a vaccination slot through the CoWin portal, but was unable to get a slot.

“I learnt about this vaccination drive from the media and relatives. I registered, and on Sunday I got my first jab,” he said, adding that his classes commenced on May 10, and that he is attending them online.

“I want to fly to Canada as soon as flights resume. Meanwhile, those who are completely vaccinated are likely not required to undergo quarantine after landing in the country,” he added.

Shomith Shetty, 30, who has been working in Dubai for the past seven years as a sales manager, took his first dose of Covishield. “I had tried to book a slot to get vaccinated through an app, but wasn’t successful. Landing in Dubai by getting vaccinated will have more benefits, and even I was asked by my company for the same,” he said.