ICMR’s National COVID Task Force has stated that symptomatic patients without lab-confirmed COVID results can take the vaccine after full recovery. According to experts, the norm applies to all the eligible beneficiaries, including those who are due for a precautionary vaccination dose and adolescents in the age bracket of 15–18 years. However, the earlier directive of deferring the vaccination dose by three months is still effective for people with lab-confirmed reports.

The ICMR spokesperson stated that the guidelines for the COVID test are not mandatory for people who have come into contact with COVID patients unless the contact is in the high-risk category. Also, the recent guidelines on screening recommendations from the government have removed the requirement for compulsory testing for asymptomatic close contact.

Dr. Sanjay Oak, the leader of the COVID task force in Maharashtra, stated that people who are aware that they are COVID positive should wait for three months before getting vaccinated. However, individuals who are symptomatic but have not had a COVID test should hold off on getting the shot until they are fully recovered, which might take up to a week. Dr. Pujari, a member of the task force, said that people who have known COVID exposure should wait to get vaccinated until their seven-day quarantine period has passed to avoid potentially exposing healthcare workers and others during the immunization visit.