Centre directs to increase Covishield dose interval to 4-8 weeks

NEW DELHI: India has decided to extend the interval between doses of Covishield vaccines from four to eight weeks, the Health Ministry said on Monday. The Ministry said 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 keeping the existing scientific evidence in view. The Centre has written to States and Union Territories to increase the interval between two doses of Covishield based on NTAGI and NEGVAC Recommendations.

However, for the indigenously produced Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, it decided to continue with the existing interval of 4-6 weeks.

In view of the emerging scientific evidence, the interval between two doses of Covishield, was revisited by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) in its 20th meeting.

During this meeting the recommendation has been revised to provide the second dose of Covishield at 4-8 weeks' interval after the first dose, instead of earlier practiced interval of 4-6 weeks.

"This decision of revised time interval between two doses is applicable only to Covishield and not to Covaxin vaccine," the Health Ministry said. (IANS)

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