The UK and WHO recommended an interval of over 12 weeks between the two doses of Covishield.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 13

India today increased the interval between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks after an expert panel recommended changes based on the experience in the UK.

“The Health Ministry has accepted this recommendation of the Covid Working Group for extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks,” an official statement said.

The group chaired by leading vaccinologist NK Arora relied on studies from the UK that established the efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine reached 82.4 per cent after the second dose in people with a dosing interval of 12 weeks or more. If the two doses were given less than six weeks apart, the efficacy was only 54.9 pc. “It’s a science-based decision. We started with a dosing interval of 4-6 weeks for Covishield which was raised to 6-8 weeks. The UK and WHO recommended an interval of over 12 weeks between the two doses of Covishield. In the UK, millions have been inoculated with the second dose at 12-16 weeks apart from the first,” said VK Paul, chairman, National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration.

No changes were recommended for Covaxin dosing with two shots still to be taken 28 days apart.

The working group is also learnt to have recommended that Covid-positive patients defer their vaccinations for six months after recovery instead of the present protocol of 4-8 weeks post recovery.

It suggested that pregnant women be given an option to inoculate and lactating women be allowed to get vaccines any time after the delivery. These two suggestions are still under deliberations.