Decision taken on the basis of real-life evidences, particularly from UK
New Delhi: Based on recommendation of COVID Working Group chaired by Dr N K Arora, the gap between two doses of Covishield vaccine has now further been extended from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted the recommendation of the COVID Working Group for extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12 -16 weeks.
No change in interval of COVAXIN vaccine doses was recommended.
It may be mentioned that earlier too, the gap between the two doses of Covishield was extended from 4-6 weeks.
Also read: “Protection enhanced if the second dose of Covishield is administered between 6-8 weeks”
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine on the basis of the available real-life evidences, particularly from UK. The COVID Working Group comprises of the following members:
- Dr N K Arora- Director, INCLEN Trust
- Dr Rakesh Agarwal, Director and dean, GIPMER, Puducherry
- Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore
- Dr J P Mulliyal, Retd 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
- Dr V G Somani, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), Govt of India
The recommendation of the COVID Working Group has been 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.
– global bihari bureau
