Centre extends gap between two doses of Covishield from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks

Photo for representational purpose

The government has accepted the Covid-19 Working Group's recommendation for extending the gap between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks, the Union health ministry said, while announcing the extension on Thursday.

Initially, the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) had permitted the second dose of Covishield to be administered 4-6 weeks after the first, and Covaxin's second dose was supposed to be given 28 days after the first. Subsequently, this interval was extended to 4-8 weeks for Covishield and 4-6 weeks for Covaxin. In April, Centre advised that the second Covishield dose could be taken 6-8 weeks after the first. No change for Covaxin's gap for second dose has been suggested since.

"Based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from the UK, the Covid-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. No change in interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended," the ministry said.

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"The recommendation of the Covid-19 Working Group was accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), headed by Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog, in its meeting on May 12, 2021," the ministry said.

It has accepted this recommendation of the Covid-19 Working Group of extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks, the health ministry added.

The Covid-19 Working Group is chaired by Dr N K Arora, who is director at the INCLEN Trust.

Its members comprise Dr Rakesh Agarwal, Director and Dean, GIPMER, Puducherry; Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr J P Mulliyal, former professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr Naveen Khanna, Group Leader, International Centre For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology (ICGEB), JNU, New Delhi; Dr Amulya Panda, Director, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi; and Dr V G Somani, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

(with inputs from mid-day online correspondent)