Centre approves COVID working group suggestion, extends gap between Covishield doses

New Delhi, May 14: The government has approved the recommendation of the COVID working group, and extends the gap between two doses of COVISHIELD vaccine to 12 to 16 weeks from 6 to 8 weeks. National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 took the decision a few hours after the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation submitted the recommendation for the same on Thursday.

 

Soon after the decision, Health Ministry has also accepted this recommendation of the COVID Working Group for the extension of the gap between the first and second doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine. "Based on the available real-life evidence, particularly from the UK, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed to increase the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine," the Health Ministry said. NEGVAC team was headed by VK Paul, who is also a Member (Health), Niti Aayog.

 

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan conveyed the revised time frame to the states in a letter and said that necessary changes are being carried out in the Co-Win platform.

 

 

 

 

NITI Aayog's Dr. VK Paul said," Not every company has a BSL3 lab where the live virus is inactivated. We give an open invitation to companies who want to do this. Companies that want to manufacture Covaxin, should do it together. The government will assist so that capacity is increased."

 

 

It should be noted that govt has increased the gap for only Covishield COVID-19, it has not were suggested for Covaxin. The gap between the 2 Covaxin shots will remain at the same at 4 to 6 weeks.

 

 

 

Covishield was originally developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford University and being manufactured by Serum Institute of India locally. The government has also changed the gap between the doses for the second time. Earlier, also the gap was increased to six to eight weeks from four to six weeks. In February, WHO had also recommended 12 weeks gap between two doses of Covishield, citing evidence that showed that its efficacy of the vaccine is the highest following this interval.

 

 

The decision has come amid when vaccination drive has slowed down due to the ongoing vaccine shortage in the country. Many states including Karnataka, Maharashtra has suspended the Phase 3 vaccination drive in their respective state. The latest decision will boost the vaccination drive.

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