No RAT required before vaccination, to take the jab 3 months after recovery from Covid: MoHFW

May 19: The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) has been guiding the strategy for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in the country Keeping in mind the evolving situation of the pandemic, the emerging scientific evidence and experience from across the globe. NEGVAC has made certain new recommendations, which have been accepted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW). regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

Deferring the COVID-19 vaccination in the following scenario:

• In case of individuals having lab test proven SARS-2 COVID-19 illness, COVID-19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months after recovery.
• In case of SARS-2 COVID-19 patients who have been given anti-SARS-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, COVID-19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months from discharge from the hospital.
• In case of individuals who have received atleast the 1st dose and got COVID-19 infection before completion of the dosing schedule, the 2nd dose should be deferred by 3 months from clinical recovery from COVID-19 illness.
• Persons with any other serious general illness requiring hospitalization or ICU Care should also wait for 4-8 weeks before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Moreover, an individual can donate blood after 14 days of either receipt of COVID-19 vaccine or testing RT-PCR negative, if suffering from COVID-19 disease. COVID-19 vaccination was recommended for all lactating women. Further, the MoHFW also informed that there is no requirement for screening of the vaccine recipients by Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to COVID-19 vaccination. However, the Centre will deliberate further regarding the vaccination of pregnant women.