Wait 12-16 weeks to take 2nd Covishield jab, 6 months for vaccine if you had Covid, govt panel
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, May 13, 2021: Increase the gap between two doses of Serum Institute of India’s Oxford Covid-19 vaccine ’Covishield’ to 12-16 weeks, a government panel has recommended. Currently, the interval between two doses of Covishield is four to eight weeks.
No change in dosage interval for Covaxin was suggested by the panel.
Those who have tested positive for Covid-19 and are waiting to take the vaccine should defer vaccination for six months after recovery, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) recommended.
The government panel said those having laboratory test-proven SARS-CoV-2 illness should defer Covid-19 vaccination for six months after recovery.
Pregnant women may be offered the choice to take any Covid-19 vaccine and that lactating women can be inoculated any time after delivery, the central government panel added.
As per sources, the panel said that pregnant women may be offered a choice to take any Covid-19 vaccine and added that lactating women are eligible for jabs any time after delivery.
The recommendations of the NTAGI will be sent to the National Expert Group on Vaccine Adminstration for Covid-19.
National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) meeting ( forenoon ) - Sources . On agenda - increasing gap between Covishield doses and also exploring vaccine options for lactating and pregnant women
— Sneha Mordani (@snehamordani) May 13, 2021
Earlier in March, the Centre had written to states and Union Territories to increase the gap between two doses of Covishield from 4-6 weeks to 4-8 weeks.
"In view of emerging scientific evidence, the interval between two doses of a specific Covid-19 vaccine i.e. Covishield, has been revisited by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and subsequently by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19," the government had said.
In a letter, Union Health Secretary said scientific evidence suggested that protection is enhanced if the second dose of Covishield is administered between 6-8 weeks.
India started the world’s largest vaccination drive on January 16 this year in a phased manner with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated first. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.
The next phase of Covid-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for those over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. India launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 from April 1.
Courtesy:India Today