The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has recommended administering the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine Covishield between eight and 16 weeks after the first dose, officials said on Sunday. Meanwhile, the apex body on immunisation has yet to suggest changes in the vaccine schedule of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin whose second dose is administered 28 days after the first dose.
Under the National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy, the second dose of Covishield is to be given between 12-16 weeks after the first dose. The recent recommendation for Covishield is yet to be implemented in the national vaccination programme.
An official source said the latest recommendation of NTAGI is based on “recent global scientific evidence derived from programmatic data.”
" According to it, when the second dose of Covishield is given eight weeks onwards, the antibody response generated is almost similar when administered at an interval of 12 to 16 weeks," the source explained.
As countries report a surge in Covid-19, the move will push India’s national vaccination drive and administration of the second dose of Covishield to the remaining six to seven crore individuals, the source said.
The government had extended the gap between the first and second doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks in May last year based on recommendations by NTAGI.
NTAGI provides guidance and advice to the Union Health Ministry on immunisation services for the effective control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the country.
(With inputs from PTI)
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