On Thursday, the Union health ministry increased the time gap between the two doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks. Earlier it was 6-8 weeks based on the recommendation of an expert panel.

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation had recommended that the time interval between the Covishield doses should be increased; however, it did not suggest any change in the dosage interval of Covaxin.

This decision has come at a time when India is already facing a shortage of vaccine doses of both Covishield and Covaxin, predominantly following the expansion of the immunisation drive for including everyone above the age of 18 years.

The government has clarified that the decision is taken based on real-life evidence, particularly from the UK. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan has also tweeted that the gap between 2 doses of Covishield vaccine is increased to 12-16 weeks from 6-8 weeks. The decision is taken based on recommendations specified by COVID working group after analysing the emerging evidence.

According to the initial permission that was granted by the Drug Controller General of India, the 2nd dose of Covishield was supposed to be administered 4-6 weeks after the 1st dose and the 2nd dose of Covaxin to be administered after 28 days of the first dose.

The interval was later extended to 4-8 weeks for Covishield vaccine and to 4-6 weeks for Covaxin. But in April again, the government has advised that the 2nd dose of Covishield should be taken at a gap of 6 to 8 weeks after receiving the first dose.

The government panel also suggested that pregnant women should be offered the choice for any COVID-19 vaccine and the lactating women should be immunized any time after the delivery.

Source: ET Healthworld