The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has recommended that the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield be administered 8-16 weeks after the first dose. The current interval between the first and second doses of Covishield is 12-16 weeks.

Meanwhile, there has been no change in the schedule of Covaxin, with the second dose being administered 28 days after the first dose. According to an official source, the latest recommendation from NTAGI is based on global scientific evidence obtained from programmatic data. It states that on administering the second dose of Covishield eight weeks onward, the antibody response appears to be quite similar when administered 12-16 weeks after the initial dose.

The decision will speed up administration of the second dose of Covishield to the remaining 6-7 crore individuals, as cases rise in several countries… (ET Healthworld – PTI, March 20, 2022)