MAY 13, 2021
Covishield Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine vials are pictured at a vaccination centre. – ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images
The government on Thursday accepted the recommendation by the Covid working group and has decided to increase the gap between two doses of Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks.
What Covid Working Group Recommended
Increase the gap between two doses of Serum Institute of India’s Oxford Covid-19 vaccine ‘Covishield’ to 12-16 weeks, a government panel had recommended. Currently, the interval between two doses of Covishield is four to eight weeks.
Those who have tested positive for Covid-19 and are waiting to take the vaccine should defer vaccination for six months after recovery, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) recommended.
What Lancet said on gap between Oxford vaccine doses
A three-month interval between doses of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine results in higher vaccine efficacy than a six-week gap, according to a new study which says the first dose can offer up to 76 per cent protection in the months between the two jabs, a study in Lancet said.
The results of the analysis from a Phase 3 randomized controlled trial, published in The Lancet journal, suggested that the interval between doses can be safely extended to three months given the protection a single dose offers.
“In the long term, a second dose should ensure long-lived immunity, and so we encourage everyone who has had their first vaccine to ensure they receive both doses,” said study lead author Professor Andrew Pollard from the University of Oxford.
Follow the government’s latest guidance on safeguarding yourself during the coronavirus pandemic, including travel advice within and outside the country. The World Health Organization has also busted some myths surrounding coronavirus. The Ministry of Health’s special helpline is available at +91-11-23978046, ncov2019@gmail.com and ncov2019@gov.in.
Courtesy/Source: India Today
