Increasing gap between Covishield doses based on scientific reason, says government

A medic administers a dose of Covid-19 vaccine to an elderly woman at a vaccination camp, in Chennai, on Wednesday. Pic/PTI

The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday dismissed media reports claiming there was dissent from technical experts about increasing the gap between two Covishield doses and said the decision was based on scientific reason about the behaviour of adenovector vaccines.

The Centre on May 13 had approved extending the gap between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine from six to eight weeks to 12 to 16 weeks following a recommendation from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

The 22nd meeting of the Covid-19 Working Group of NTAGI was held on May 10. There, a proposal for a change in dose interval for Covishield, used under the National Vaccination Policy, was considered.

Based on the real-life evidence, particularly from the United Kingdom, the Covid-19 Working Group agreed to increase the interval between two doses of Covishield vaccine to 12 to 16 weeks, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

This recommendation was taken up for discussion at the meeting of the Standing Technical Sub-Committee (STSC) of NTAGI held on May 13 under the joint chairpersonship of the secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, the secretary of Department of Health Resources and the DG of the Indian Council of Medical Research, it said.

‘Covid-19 drugs not for children'

Drugs such as ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, favipiravir and antibiotics like doxycycline and azithromycin prescribed for adult Covid-19 patients have not been recommended for treating children, according to a government guideline issued on Wednesday. The government has come out with guidelines for operationalising Covid-care services for children.

Asaram in hospital with post-Covid complications

Controversial self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in connection with a rape case in Jodhpur jail, was shifted to the AIIMS on Wednesday after he complained of breathing issues owing to post-Covid complications. On May 7, Asaram was admitted to MDM Hospital after testing positive.

‘Delta Plus not yet variant of concern'

In the context of public discourse regarding detection of new variants, NITI Aayog Member (Health) VK Paul has reminded that the newly detected ‘Delta Plus' variant is not yet classified as a Variant of Concern (VOC). The variant was observed in Europe in March and has been notified and brought into public domain on June 13 this month.

Also Read: Delta Plus variant a major concern, Uddhav Thackeray told

2,96,33,105
Total no. of Coronavirus cases in india so far

3,79,573
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India so far

8,65,432
Total no. of active cases in India

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