Centre direct states to increase the interval between Covishield doses

New Delhi, March 23: Central government has directed state and union territories to increase the interval between two doses of Serum Institute's Covishield vaccine from 4-6 weeks to 6 to 8 weeks for better results. According to the health ministry, the decision was taken based on recommendations by two expert panels National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), and subsequently by the National Expert Group.

 

The scientific evidence suggests that the protection is enhanced if the second dose of COVISHIELD is administered between 6-8 weeks. However, it also suggests that the second dose of vaccine should not be administered after 8 weeks.

 

 

 

"In view of emerging scientific evidence, the interval between two doses of a specific COVID-19 vaccine i.e. Covishield has been revisited by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and subsequently by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19," it said in a statement.

 

In the letter by Union Health Secretary Shri Rajesh Bhushan, he said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted the recommendations of NTAGI and NEGVAC, following which the Centre advised the states and UTs to administer the dose after an interval of 4-8 weeks.

 

The Union Health Secretary has urged the States and UTs to instruct the concerned officials accordingly to undertake necessary steps to widely disseminate the message of revised dosing interval amongst program managers, vaccinators, and recipients of COVISHIELD vaccine and ensure adherence to the revised dosing interval.

 

 

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