Govt panel recommends more gap of 12 to 16 weeks between Covishield doses

May 13: In a latest development, an expert panel of the government, the ‘National Immunization Technical Advisory Group’ recommended on Thursday that the gap between two doses of the Covishield vaccine be increased to 12-16 weeks. However, no change has been suggested for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, whose gap between the two doses stands at four to six weeks. These recommendations will be sent to NEGVA – the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration – for approval before the changes and suggestions are implemented.

It needs mention here that currently, the interval between two doses of Covishield is four to eight weeks. This is the second time in three months Covishield dosage intervals have been widened. Earlier in March states and UTs were told to increase the gap from 28 days to six-eight weeks “for better results”. The development comes in the wake of India facing an acute shortage of vaccine supply amid the catastrophic second wave.

The panel also said that pregnant women can choose their vaccine and that lactating women will be eligible any time after delivery. It further advised those with other serious illnesses and in ICU care to wait four-eight weeks. The panel also recommended those testing positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to defer vaccination for six months after recovery.

As of now, Bharat Biotech’s indigenously developed Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield are being used in India’s inoculation drive against coronavirus.