Centre writes to states/UTs to increase gap b/w two doses of COVISHIELD. Know details

New Delhi: The Centre on Monday shot off a letter to the state and union territories advising them ensure that the second dose of COVISHIELD is administered to beneficiaries within stipulated time interval of 4-8 weeks after 1st dose, instead of earlier practiced interval of 4-6 weeks. 

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan urged the States and UTs to instruct the concerned officials accordingly to undertake necessary steps to widely disseminate the message of revised dosing interval amongst programme managers, vaccinators and recipients of COVISHIELD vaccine and ensure adherence of the revised dosing interval.

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, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.

Keeping the existing scientific evidence in view, it appears 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.

This decision of revised time interval between two doses is applicable only to COVISHIELD and not to COVAXIN vaccine. (UNI)