Covishield second dose interval to be increased to 12-16 weeks, suggests govt panel

There is a huge shortage of corona vaccine in the country. Those who have taken first dose of vaccine are waiting for the second shot.

As a result, the government had earlier asked to take second dose of the Covishield vaccine after 45 days of first. Centre had issued orders after a comprehensive study. Under this, the second dose of Covishield will be given after 45-60 days, instead of 28-45 days. 

Now this gap is likely to be extended even further. This interval is expected to increase by 12 to 16 weeks. The central government’s Covid expert committee has recommended extending the duration of the second dose of Oxford’s Covishield, one of the two Covid-19 vaccines being given across the country as part of nationwide inoculation drive. The interval between two doses of Covishield has been suggested to be increased by 12 to 16 weeks.

Currently, the interval between two doses of Covishield is four to eight weeks. Importantly, the duration of the second dose of Bharat Biotech's covaxin has been kept the same. For Covaxin, a second dose will be given after the 28th day.

The panel also said that those who had been infected with the corona and those who had recovered did not need to rush for the corona vaccine immediately. The NTAGI recommends that such people should be vaccinated six months after recovery. Women who are pregnant are allowed to choose any vaccine. Also, women can be vaccinated at any time after delivery, the panel said.

Britain, which uses Covishield, has set a gap of 12 weeks between the two doses. Canada has kept the same gap at 16 weeks.