The government has written to states and Union Territories that the interval between two doses of Covishield should be increased to six-to-eight weeks for better results.
The government has written to states and Union Territories that the interval between two doses of Covishield should be increased to six-to-eight weeks for better results.
The instructions come in middle of the second round of nationwide inoculation, in which senior citizens and people over 45 with other illnesses are being vaccinated.
The centre said that the revised interval was applicable only to Covishield and not to Covaxin.
The current gap between two doses is four to eight weeks.
“In view of the 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 (NTAGI) and subsequently by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) in its 20th meeting,” the letter by the centre said.
“During this meeting the recommendation has been revised to provide 2nd dose of Covishield at 4-8 weeks’ interval after the first dose, instead of earlier practiced interval of 4-6 weeks.”
It appeared that “protection is enhanced if the second dose of COVISHIELD is administered between 6-8 weeks, but not later than stipulated period of 8 weeks”, the centre’s letter stressed.
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