A reduction of 3 months in the waiting time in administering the precautionary doses of the Covid-19 vaccine after the second dose was suggested by the National Technical Advisory Group Immunization (NTAGI), India. The Standing Technical Sub-Committee (STSC) of NTAGI recommended decreasing the time gap from 9 to 6 months on Thursday, while the final decision is awaited from the Health Ministry. 

The government advisory panel denied recommendations for mix-matching Covid-19 vaccines as they found differences found in the results of the study performed at the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore.

The panel agreed to give the third dose to renal transplant patients before the cautionary dose. They analyzed and reviewed the data on the Covaxin and Corbevax vaccines for children aged 6 to 12, which were approved for emergency use in April. 

They also showed concern about the spread of monkeypox and discussed the need for vaccination to prevent the same. Currently, anyone above the age of 18 who has completed 9 months after receiving the second dose is eligible for the precautionary dose. Last month, the Union government permitted citizens and students travelling abroad to obtain the vaccine before the nine-month waiting time mandated by the destination country′s standards. (ETHealthWorld, June 17, 2022)